#they are very twin coded your honour

[avi-mation]

Sleepy Morales twins

[childotkw]

i'd also like a top ten list but of your own characters :D I am still intrigued about your original stories and I'd like to know how you rank them and why

Oh god I don’t know if I can contain this to just ten, I’ve had a lot more OG stories crop up over the years that I haven’t spoken about on here 😂 why don’t I do top 3-5 for each?

Aasdfsdgfsdfklgjsd this is so long I'm so sorry 😂😂😂😂

Storm Son Series

Tristan - he is my boy! My son! So earnest, and he wants to be a good ruler to make his mother proud while protecting his friends. He can be reckless and headstrong, but is a natural leader and charismatic. Still young enough to believe in the good of others, a bit naïve and idealistic, but it's endearing. Comes up with crazy plans on the fly, and loves Alden and Sena so much he's ridiculous.

Alden - he’s just…so cool to me. Perpetually responsible, to the point of being obsessive when carrying out his duties. He seems reckless, but he knows his own capabilities so well that any risks he takes are actually calculated down to the finest detail. He is the one that enables Tristan’s crazy plans. He’s got ~hidden trauma~, but loves Tristan and Sena enough to let them in.

Sena - she's very Angry but she’s got Reasons for it. An outcast, she just wants to find her place in the world, and have a family with someone that genuinely loves and respects her. She’s not human, and is insanely strong, to the point where yeeting Alden at an enemy is a move they hone and use regularly. She loves Alden and Tristan and would die to protect them.

Lucas - the cool suave mentor figure. Massive DILF energy. Alden is his protege and thinks he is “all the best parts” of Lucas. Pseudo-father-son relationship on full blast. Lucas has done some bad shit in his past though, and it makes other, older characters very wary and distrusting of him.

Rosen - main villain. He’s clever and dangerous, and can come across as a madman but he’s actually fully in control at all times and that makes it way worse. Calculative and manipulative, he’s all-in in his plots and confident that he can win. Mildly obsessed with Alden because of his undisclosed past with Lucas.

Undertow

Cassius - if trauma had an associated image it would be his face. This man desperately needs a break. A child soldier, he struggles emotionally to connect with others whenever he tries, and has a lot of identity issues. He loves his twin brother, and though he does a lot of horrible stuff, he's equally messed up by it. He's my punching bag and is a water mage.

Darian - Cassius' twin and number one protector. Can, has and will throw hands to keep his brother safe. Darian is a lot more carefree and emotionally stable, but he also hides a very dark streak. He enjoys fighting, revels in violence and is borderline psychotic with only Cassius existing in his sphere of loved ones. He's a fire mage, and terrifyingly suited to his element.

Cenli - the head of the institute that trains the mages. She's cold and political, using others for her own gain without hesitation. She only wants to protect the institute. Does play a somewhat maternal role for Cassius and Darian but it's a very complex relationship.

Kalim (might be renamed) - high ranking bad dude that's obsessed with Cassius because he saw him do A Grisly Murder once and it tickled his fancy. He's playing 4D chess against everyone and is very hard to predict. Pretty much everyone hates when he's around because they all know he's up to something but they can never prove it.

Trials of Edos

Eli - probably the sweetest all-around character I’d ever write. He’s young, like fourteen, and very much a Classic Hero that wants to save everyone even at cost to himself. Selfless and kind to balance out the absolute magical power he’s packing. Kid could destroy the sun but he won’t because he’s a Good Boy. Needs supervision though because he attracts trouble.

Ariella - a thief with an honour code that means she can’t let Eli throw himself at the Big Bad alone. She gets caught up in the plot and just never leaves. Very confident, very switched-on, very competent. She finds Cayden adorable because he’s trying to be chivalrous and respectful. She enjoys pushing his buttons.

Cayden - a knight from an extinct order that swears loyalty to Eli after he saves him. He’s just a good guy, bit out of touch but genuine. Ariella both terrifies and fascinates him, and they work well together. He’s got a lot of guilt and trauma though, which springs up at the oddest times and makes his friends very protective of him.

Gods and monsters (not officially named)

Ira - disgruntled immortal wizard (think 5000+ years) that is forever in service of the royal family. He’s got Tired Dad energy when interacting with Elana but everyone else just gets a glare. He’s insanely powerful, has a long, long history and Knows A Lot Of Shit because he’s been around for it all. Very Angry at the Gods for Very Valid Reasons.

Elana - Princess-turned-Queen after her father’s death. She’s twelve/thirteen, very inexperienced and has been ‘given’ Ira as her key advisor, but she has no idea who or what he is. Very quickly bonds with him as a father-figure, and wants to uncover all of his secrets. She’s inquisitive and clever but painfully young, and still believes in goodness and fairness and daydreams.

Constance - Elana’s grandmother, former Queen. She’s old and not always aware of what’s happening around her, but she and Ira have a past because he was her key advisor when she was Queen. She’s very respected by her people, but had a vicious streak not many know about.

Ziris - the god of fortune / misfortune. Very young, only about 800 years old. He’s a troublemaker and fickle but if you catch his interest he’ll be ride-or-die for you. Very loyal to his goddess-mother, and is heavily involved in the politics of the Gods. He has a fondness for irritating Ira, and likes Elana.

Dystopian (not officially named)

Piers Erinson - my sad, wet, pathetic son. Someone needs to get this boy some therapy. Very self-destructive, way kinder than you would expect. A member of the DOVEs, which are the elite troops / spies of the Council. He was strong armed into service after a mishap with his old squad, and is the nephew of a hated former DOVE, and traitor. He’s forever trying to escape that shadow, and carries a lot of guilt over what happened to his squad. He would die for Etta, his DOVE partner - and tries to multiply times but she just won’t let him.

Etta Litman - my daughter! Badass lady, 10/10 want to be her friend. Etta was part of Piers’ squad when The Thing happened. She saw him spiralling and joined up with DOVE to keep an eye on him, essentially threw herself to the wolves to protect him from the system and all the corrupt people. She’s very patient, supportive and empathetic to Piers, seeing him as a surrogate younger brother. Anyone else can get fucked in her eyes. She’s super protective of him and will punch anyone who insults him at the drop of a hat.

Dacre Cygnet - rebel, wants to fight the Council and the system and probably God too. Very manipulative, often lies to even his friends if it’ll get him what he wants (and he might even feel bad about it). Blinded by his mission and fully willing to go through people if they stand in his way. Feels many things all at once towards Piers that he cannot compute because he’s a bit of an asshole, very much a “you are the only person I’d hesitate to shoot, please don’t use that against me” kinda deal. They’re on opposite sides technically but he pines.

Marie Fowlep - Piers and Etta’s mentor in DOVE. She had a history with Piers’ uncle, and you can’t tell if she wants to keep Piers safe or wants to use him until he breaks. Doesn’t have a maternal bone in her body but would go to bat for her kids operatives. She’s a “the ends justify the means” kind of lady. Can be very mean.

Rust and Ruin

Mikol - youngest child of Emperor Bendek and Royal Consort Anilise. He’s aware from a young age of the shitty position his mother (and he) have in Otrar’s court and feels a deeper connection to her as both of them were considered ‘outsiders’ due to their features. After his mother died, Mikol spent the next nine years in his mother’s country as a ward, and grew to be a cunning, quick-witted and strong leader. He travelled all over, joined the army, learning as much as he could about how badly his family ruled, and eventually returned to Otrar. He’s an ambitious little fucker and doesn’t get along with his older siblings, especially his oldest half-brother Leonil.

Orryn - born in Troam Siana, the isle of the Ashri (those capable of different types of magic), he was quickly singled out as a new type of Ashri (called Okaeti - capable of energy manipulation). He grew lonely though as the only Okaeti, and made his way to Otrar. Decades later he’s still there, acting as an advisor to the royal family but growing increasingly frustrated with how they govern. He was close friends with Anilise and grows to care for Mikol.

Anilise - the daughter of the King of Evaria, she was forced to marry Emperor Bendek after their country was conquered. Anilise was fifteen, completely isolated in a foreign, hostile court, and essentially forced to breed over and over because the Empress could not carry more children herself. She’s quiet and subdued, treated more as an ornament than a person. Anilise birthed four children, all made to look like the Emperor and Empress in utero by an Ashri magic. Anilise had little to no contact with her children, who grew up thinking the Empress was their mother. Mikol is her only child that looks like her, so she was allowed to raise him. Unfortunately, her constant pregnancies deteriorated her health to the point where she was bedridden, and she died when Mikol was six.

Leonil - the oldest of Bendek’s children, he’s a cruel and cunning young man that wants the throne. He has a particular dislike for Mikol, who he acknowledges is the most dangerous of his half-siblings, and the two of them are each other’s main rival / enemy. Leonil is married with his own young son, and loves his wife and child fiercely. He is ruthless when it comes to defending his claim to the throne, and wants Mikol out of the way.

Delia - Leonil’s wife and a very charming, conniving woman. She’s a softer touch when it comes to manipulating others, and shares what information she gleans with her husband. She also thinks Mikol is dangerous but thinks he'd be more beneficial on their side than against them. She is an excellent politician, and people often underestimate her.

[abyssmalice]

Alternate Skin: [Snowfall Dignitary] 

“A formal outfit worn by Tartaglia for diplomatic events. As a Harbinger, representative of Her Majesty’s divine will, this dress exudes the professionalism of an Archon’s trusted subordinate and the soft elegance of Snezhnayan nobility—all without losing a spark of sweet youthfulness. Well, until Tartaglia opens her mouth in greeting anyway.”

(in other news, what’s sleep when i got a cute idea for an outfit for tonitoni!!!!!!!!!!

this outfit is based on childe’s outfit in a winter night’s lazzo - i particularly focused on the muted color palette of his outfit + the splashes of red seen in his mask and scarf. i also included the diamond chinese knots that both his pv and in-game outfit have too.

and considering the context of the pv is a serious, ‘formal’ sort of event but with a shared dress code i.e. with uniformed military personnel, tonitoni’s outfit is similarly designed to be formal but also to “match” with the uniformed-ish styles of the other harbingers in the pv. which is to say if someone dropped the big fwuffy harbinger coat on her, she’d blend in perfectly ww

the colored sketch on the left is my “final” draft of the outfit, but i couldn’t decide on if i’d want her to have her usual twin braids or a singular braid so that’s there on the side for funsies ww. additionally, the first draft of the outfit had boots + an asymmetrical backside, long and coat-like with a fluffy trim. i like the idea of that somehow being a secondary design of the skin that can be toggled lol

and since this is me toying with the idea of a tonitoni skin - for extra funsies, a lore story + hypothetical voicelines below - )

Selection Voicelines:

“Please don’t tell me I have to stand around looking pretty and greeting people over and over. No? Good. I’d rather kill someone than do that right now.”

“To the bountiful lands of peace and winter beauty, graced with Her Majesty’s embrace—I bid you welcome. Also, I hope your house burns down and you lose all your mora afterwards.”

“Well, let’s get this dumb party over with.”

Outfit Lore:

In the land of peace and winter beauty, for all the bitter cold there may be, warmth gathers and mingles in the very heart and hearth of the Tsaritsa.

Of course, to any visiting foreigner, this may not be so easily apparent, if at all.

As such, as a Harbinger, second to none to the Archon, reporting to said Archon, it makes sense that a Harbinger would stand as spokesperson and representative as well. 

Which is to say, it is expected and hoped for all Harbingers to be courteous to any dignitaries that approach the land of eternal snowfall.

And all Harbingers, indeed, will do their best to welcome such esteemed guests with the grace of Her Majesty, the gentleness of Her Majesty, and the very might of Her Majesty—such that the perfection of the Cryo Archon is visible and understandable to all.

They shall do their best... even if it is a loathed, tedious procedure all the while.

“Does it really matter if I have to be there? There’s already going to be ten of us at this stupid party.” “Exactly, child. Ten of my Eleven - what shall they think, as they espy such a singular, conspicuous absence?” “Even if I go, I can’t even do much besides saying hello. Since you told me not to say anything ‘unnecessary’, and all I have to say to people like them is unnecessary things anyway. Not that I even want to - ugh, what’s even the point of me just standing there, shaking a bunch of hands and trying not to step on their shoes, huh?”

The maid tending to the Eleventh, brushing and braiding the young girl’s hair, finishes now. She steps back to allow the most esteemed resident of the room to take a closer look at the result. 

Soon receiving a curt nod of acceptance, the maid murmurs her honours and bows, departing after.

“...Let it be a practice of patience, my child.” The Tsaritsa gently affixes a bright red mask on the girl’s head.  “A patience demonstrated in personality and a patience of our grand work. Nations are not built in a day. All things begin small and slow, gradually rising into greatness and prominence.”

The Eleventh clicks her tongue, as if to disagree. Her Archon rests a demure hand on her shoulder. Looking at the pair in the vanity’s mirror, it would not be hard to mistake their reflections for a mother advising her daughter.

Such a mundane impression is quick to falter when Tartaglia sighs and rises from her seat. 

“—Whatever. Let’s just get this boring night over with, then. The faster I shake all their hands, the faster I can ignore them afterwards, right?”

[rurpleplayssims]

Finally read Strangertown, and I'm loving your take on these sims. Found it so refreshing how you've made Olive so nice and accepting. And Lola really needs some sense knocked into her head lol

Aww thank yoooou! 🥰 And also thank you for taking the time to like each post as you read them! 😊

Like I mentioned before, I've seen various versions of how people interpret Olive, and I liked to think that she does care for her niece, out of respect for the sister she lost.

Of course there are many people who suspect that Olive wasn't innocent in her death. If she was, then she felt guilt and remorse for it ever since, having grown wiser to how she might’ve acted in anger. Like Benjamin Franklin said - ‘Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.’ And to redeem herself in her own eyes, she took care to look after the last remaining part of her sister she had left - Ophelia.

Don't get me wrong, Olive isn't a “good person" but nobody is wholly good or wholly bad.

It's like everything in life - a balance is required and often the challenge in life is maintaining that balance, especially when your own goals, habits and life events change over time.

I'm glad you think that Lola's actions (or lack of foresight at the very least) are out of order! There are 'faults' on both sides of the argument, but Lola's stumbling block is that she is adamantly refusing to acknowledge that she could be wrong.

Kristen didn’t get a chance to tell the girls that she fancied Alec, but hoped that girl code would be honoured. Alec is a teammate of Kristen’s and they are or were very good friends. Lola, thinking with her very confident but overpowering sense of self, didn’t bat an eyelid at snatching Alec.

Kristen has perceived her actions as backstabbing or breaking girl code. She refuses to acknowledge Lola’s presence in the days afterwards, because Lola acted like Kristen didn’t matter. Otherwise, she’d have asked Kristen before she swooped in. And also even if Kristen wasn’t interested in Alec, he is her closest friend and Lola is her roomate. If it wasn’t jealousy at play, it would've been awkward, especially if they’d broken up.  

Lola didn’t do it to spite Kristen - that is very important to remember.

She did it because she wanted him, and she ‘took him’ to prove she could have him. It’s good for people to be confident, but combined with Lola’s political ambition and her issues with her past, it results in her coming off as very arrogant at times. 

This is why I prefer her twin Chloe, who has become my favourite character to write. I like how playful and laid back she can be, knowing that it's best to have fun and live life like it’s your last day. And as much as her sister is her closest friend in this world, she knows when Lola is out of order, and will bluntly tell her so.

I never used to play the Singles household much when I used to play Strangetown off-screen in years past. They were often a family I kept in the family bin and forgot about. But I must say they are my current favourite household to play now! Almost too much, as I've done a lot of narrative from their views, and there is much more coming that I've already screenshot, but not made the posts in my queue yet.

I didn’t intend this reply to be so long, but I got carried away! 😂

Thank you for enjoying the series!  😊The support from you all helps keeps me inspired and determined to push on with Strangertown (and when I get back to it) and Campbell Quay.

[arcadejohn127-9]

may i request a fluffy hc? this is a platonic relationships with the brothers during mc's wedding and then the brother's realize then they've known mc for such a long time and that theyre growing up as a human and like may be a small addition of angst. Maybe even some interactions with mc's spouse and the bros?

This, this right here - oh yeah

This just brings me back because one of my plot devices for a fanfic I wrote years ago was the MC leaving their husband at the alter because they couldn't say "I do" and ran off to catch up with the Demon they wanted to be with

Of course I keep all my things as gender neutral as I can but you will be in the 'bride' position but considering that this spouse is also gender ambiguous - the title doesn't really mean much. Also personally I wouldn't care if I walked the aisle or it was future partner. As long as someone does it then there's no issue.

Additional: I'm just a pasty white man whose only been to one wedding; my parents - so my only experience is a Christian/Catholic white people wedding - I just wanted to add this as I'm aware in other cultures and countries weddings are very different.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was your wedding day. A day you've been planning for years now with your spouse. They made you the happiest person in the world and you couldn't of asked for a better person to live your years with. Of course, You had to invite the most influencal people in your life to be your best man- well men.

That's right, standing by a priest was 7 of the most powerful demons in the Devildom. All watching you make your way towards your spouse. You were grinning, tears in your eyes. It was safe to say your spouse wasn't any better, jogging on the spot to finally seeing you. They couldn't believe how stunning you looked, mouth covered by their hand as they sobbed.

Mammon was bawling his eyes out by the time you took your spouse hand. He tuned out the priest as he clung to his older brother. Lucifer just stood there stiff, lips twitching as he looked to the side, hiding his forming tears. Levithan smacked mammon for being embarassing but he wasn't any better; you were getting married!!!

Satan was death glaring your spouse; hoping it'll sent a mental image that he will come for them if they hurt you even once. Asmodeus was holding Satan's hand, wiping his eyes before the tears could come. Not wanting to ruin his makeup before the pictures were taken.

The twins stood with their brothers, watching you speak your love and devotion to your spouse. Belphegor sniffed, leaning against his brother. Beelzebub patted his little brothers head, face cold as massive tears ran down his face.

They've watched you grow to become the person you are today through the exchange program and now you were being whisked away. Planning to stay in the human realm with your partner and live a happy married life. The brothers and Everyone else was absolutely shattered by this.

Diavolo, Barbatos Simeon, Luke and Solomon were all sitting on your side. Luke was much like mammon; bawling his eyes out hugging Simeon. Simeon was soothing the young one. Barbatos was holding his young masters hand, giving it reasurring pat's as he silently soothed the large demon. Diavolo sniffling and grinning as he watched you. Solomon was the calmest one out of Everyone but that didn't mean he wasn't going to miss you. No, he'll your adventures together and sad you're giving up being his apprentice for a normal life.

"it's okay to cry Lucifer." Mammon murmured, seeing his brother struggle.

But Lucifer refused. He refused to cry especially Infront of you. But what he didn't realize was the single tear of sadness and joy falling down his face.

They were all sad to no longer have you so prominent in their life but beyond joyed you've come so far. You found someone you love and they love you back. Your time at the academy has ended and your trips to the devildom will be limited. The brothers just have to rely on phone calls and being summoned to see you.

They grieved whilst they celebrated such a wonderful day.

Lucifer:

Stares down your spouse whenever he can

Big brother mode ™

Low-key maybe even high-key dad energy from Lucifer

He was in charge of making sure everything went well and was on time

Only accepting the best for his young human and willing to pay for the entire wedding

Even Diavolo agreed to pay for everything

He thinks your spouse is a wonderful partner but will forever be bitter how they stole you from them

"Lucifer, it's been a honour to know you and I want to thank you for coming to the wedding."

"yes, don't disappoint them or I will crawl out of hell just to rip your wind pipe - your atonement for breathing and speaking in their air."

"y-yes sir! I promise I will make (Y/N) the happiest person in the world until we both die!"

"or you mysteriously drop."

Mammon:

Has threatened the spouse because he knows your worth

Bummed out all of them got to be best man

He's your number one! Your first! Why are the others your best man??!?

he and asmo were in charge of the bachelor party for both of you and your spouse

Safe to say he got WASTED

"Oi human, I'm watching ya - one sad tear from them and you'll see how demonic I can be."

"i understand, I promise that'll never happen."

"Knew you'd be a good match! Now if anyone says something is missing, ignore that - do your partner's best man a favour."

Levithan:

Didn't want to go - he embarassed himself at the bachelor party

But didn't want to miss his best friend's wedding

He didn't want to ruin your big day because he knew he'd get jealous but to not see you or be there for you is just cruel

Also got wasted and cried to you about how evil your spouse is for taking you away from him

Almost fought your spouse when drunk with Mammon tag teaming with him

"I hope you're forgiven me now, I promise to give you summon whenever they miss you."

"or you could just let me keep my best friend.....make them happy please..."

"i will, I'd rather drop than ever hurt them."

Satan:

he was STRESSED

He was doing management with Lucifer and almost wrecked the place due to his brothers attitude

All he could do was read as many books as he could of marriage and just hope it worked

But he felt reassured knowing who you were marrying, it was their time to shine as a perfect partner and they did just that

Satan was one to stop his older brothers from destroying your spouse

"Hello, you did well with your vowels."

"oh thank you, Satan - heh never going to get use to that."

"Let's hope you never have to say my name whilst begging for mercy, I'll be keeping tabs."

Asmodeus:

He was the one who helped you pick out all the outfits and the dress code for your guests

Was very proud that his party was such a hit for everyone

Has flirted with your spouse and gets happy whenever they don't get swayed by his charms

Ready for all the marriage gossip!

Has teased about you two starting a family

"asmodeus, it's a shame to say I'm now married, your charm has failed."

"You are but one loss in my amazing track record, let's hope you keep up this energy or else~"

"I'm extremely happy with (Y/N), there's no need."

Beezlebub:

Him and the second cake hit it off IMMEDIATELY

he was all over it and it was a sight to behold

But before the wedding he was spending time with your spouse

He was making sure that they were the perfect fit, he trusted your judgment but he was determined to protect you

Happy to see how kind and honest your spouse was

"I have to ask, can you eat ANYTHING? I've heard so much from (Y/N)-"

"I can eat humans."

"I see....noted."

Belphegor:

Refused to sleep until the wedding was over

This man isn't effected by coffee but he STILL chugged it down in hopes he could make it through the whole thing

Did end up falling asleep due to the priest took too long talking

Lukcily beel got him to wake up when you were sharing vowes

Has told your spouse that he once considered genocide of humans

It was an interesting experience

"I'll kill you if you hurt them, you know I will - give them what they're worth and i don't care if that's the entire world - give them the damn world."

"I'll give them the world and the entire galaxy."

"good, I won't let you trample on them and give them less than that."

[valfeathers]

dr:t pride headcanons, written edition

so i’ve recently received some asks about whether or not i headcanon any of the characters from dr:togami as lgbtq+ or not and, as a very queer person, you know i do! 

since i’ve been struggling to put out art recently, i figured that i’d take the time to write down my pride headcanons in honour of pride month! i want to apologise for not being in the proper headspace to post even though i promised i would, i hope this gets my thoughts across in some form!

(if i neglect to mention anyone just assume that they’re either straight or unlabeled!)

and if i word this post firmly, please remember that these are my opinions and you’re well within your right to disagree so long as you’re respectful. 

spoilers? maybe. gay people below the cut!

so let’s start it off with our volume 1 cast!-

byakuya: gay & gender-fluid. now, i feel very strongly that during the events of the novels he was still far far into that closet, but believe me it’s there. remember when he had to dress up as that nun? and how he was vibing in that convent, a place that celeste mentions doesn’t allow men? he was very trans in that chapter. and let’s not even mention polaris p. polanski. this kid is so transgender it makes my eyes hurt.  

shinobu: lesbian. she’s a lesbian. this is partly due to projection and partly due to the way that she describes female characters, but i’m not gonna tether my opinions to canon so i’ll leave it at that. i feel like she’s actually a little bit of a hopeless romantic. 

satomi aoba: lesbian. i promise they’re not all lesbians, it’s just that i’m a lesbian and i love satomi. but also it’s the way that she interacts with the mole in volume 1, as if she’s moved past having patience for men. and that’s very lesbian of her. 

hiroyuki: pansexual trans man. now these are purely headcanon, but i characterise hiroyuki as not giving a damn about gender in the slightest. if he likes you, he likes you. and i don’t remember when exactly i decided to make him a trans man but i get the feeling that it’s because he’s a twin. i get that they aren’t identical but i saw the opportunity and took it, what can i say. like shinobu, i’d like to think he craves love and romance but he tends to mask his emotions with humour so you’d have to be able to read him to know that. good lad, in all. 

yuika: pansexual. they’re twins! they match! kidding, there’s more to it. now, at some point i decided that yuika would also go for personality other than gender, since she values someone who unflinchingly cares about her, especially since her fleshed out backstory in my rewrite reveals that her peers didn’t exactly treat her well. but that’s for another time.

taeko: lesbian. last one, i swear! i’d argue that taeko & yuika are slightly girlfriend-coded in the novels, but that’s beside the point. the second i read taeko’s dialogue and scenes i got hit with a strong femme-lesbian vibe. she really values femininity, she kicks ass and she’s the hyper to yuika’s calm

andou (A54) naoki: bisexual. honorable mention! he plays a bigger role in my ver. which is why he’s here. i can’t exactly put this one into words without explaining his entire character and, my god, i want this post to be brief. so just trust me on this one. once i actually post about him hopefully you’ll get it. 

and now for the dead siblings!- 

now, i’m aware of just how strict this family is, but as you all know (hopefully) you’re gay regardless of your situation, and like, mathematically there’s no way that every single one of them is straight.

ichirou: bisexual. again, this one mostly fits my characterisation of him, which i’ll elaborate on later! for now all i’ll say is that he’d be kind of nonchalant about it? like ‘oh you know, uneventful work day, saved a life, repaired an artery, kissed a man, et cetera.’ and he’s not stupid, at all, nor is he uncaring, it’s just that it’s such a natural part of him that he doesn’t question it at all. 

saburou: asexual. this only relates to my interpretation of him, which is very different from canon! he’s the type of kid to make the most out of left field, egregious sex joke imaginable only to be the most asexual person you ever did meet. 

takaya: aroace. now, if he had gotten to live longer and work his shit out he’d realise that is the definition of aroace. he, for his whole life, simply had no interest. a common experience for aromantic people (coming from an aro person!) is the classic ‘pick someone to have a crush on’ experience but in all honesty, i dont think he even did that. he simply didn’t care in the slightest and wasn’t afraid to let people know it. 

[lavendermilkandhoney]

12/22 The Lovers – Johnny & Rogue

In Game

The Lovers is the card of dichotomies. It points to the contradictions that clash within each of us and of the challenge of striking a balance between extremes. The Lovers is also the card of dilemmas, like The Fool who stands at the crossroads, unable to make his choice.

Location

This one is found at the Silver Pixel Cloud drive-in theater located in North Oak. It'll be behind the big screen. You need to get inside by typing in the access code 0000.

Zodiac Sign : Gemini

The Lovers tarot card represents Gemini as a symbolic way of indicating the duality of both the sign and the card. Gemini as the zodiac sign of the twins matched with the lovers' card which shows up the male-female counterparts, dualities of each other.

In Tarot

UPRIGHT: Love, harmony, relationships, values alignment, choices

REVERSED: Self-love, disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values

The Lovers card shows a naked man and woman standing beneath the angel, Raphael, whose name means ‘God heals’ and represents both physical and emotional healing. The angel blesses the man and woman and reminds them of their union with the Divine.

The couple stands in a beautiful, fertile landscape, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. Behind the woman stands a tall apple tree, with a snake winding its way up the trunk. The serpent and apple tree represent the temptation of sensual pleasures that may take one’s focus away from the Divine. Behind the man is a tree of flames, which represent passion, the primary concern of the man. The twelve flames suggest the twelve zodiac signs, the symbol of time and eternity. The man looks to the woman, who watches the angel, showing the path of the conscious to the subconscious to the super-conscious, or from physical desire to emotional needs to spiritual concerns.

The volcanic mountain in the background is rather phallic and represents the eruption of passion that happens when man and woman meet in full frontal nudity.

Upright

In its purest form, the Lovers card represents conscious connections and meaningful relationships. The arrival of this card in a Tarot reading shows that you have a beautiful, soul-honouring connection with a loved one. You may believe you have found your soul mate or life partner, and the sexual energy between you both goes way beyond instant gratification and lust to something that is very spiritual and almost Tantric. While the Lovers card typically refers to a romantic tie, it can also represent a close friendship or family relationship where love, respect and compassion flow.

The Lovers is a card of open communication and raw honesty. Given that the man and woman are naked, they are both willing to be in their most vulnerable states and have learned to open their hearts to one another and share their truest feelings. They shape the container from which trust and confidence can emerge, and this makes for a powerful bond between the two. In a reading, this card is a sign that by communicating openly and honestly with those you care about, you will create a harmonious and fulfilling relationship built on trust and respect.

On a more personal level, the Lovers card represents getting clear about your values and beliefs. You are figuring out what you stand for and your philosophy. Having gone through the indoctrination of the Hierophant, you are now ready to establish your belief system and decide what is and what is not essential to you. It’s time to go into the big wide world and make choices for yourself, staying true to who you are and being authentic and genuine in all your endeavours.

At its heart, the Lovers is about choice. The choice about who you want to be in this lifetime, how you connect with others and on what level, and about what you will and won’t stand for. To make good choices, you need to be clear about your personal beliefs and values – and stay true to them. Not all decisions will be easy either. The Lovers card is often a sign that you are facing a moral dilemma and must consider all consequences before acting. Your values system is being challenged, and you are being called to take the higher path, even if it is difficult. Do not carry out a decision based on fear or worry or guilt or shame. Now, more than ever, you must choose love – love for yourself, love for others and love for the Universe. Choose the best version of yourself.

Finally, the Lovers card encourages you to unify dual forces. You can bring together two parts that are seemingly in opposition to one another and create something that is ‘whole’, unified and harmonious. In every choice, there is an equal amount of advantage and disadvantage, opportunity and challenge, positive and negative. When you accept these dualities, you build the unity from which love flows.

Reversed

The Lovers card is pure love and harmony. Reversed, it can signal a time when you’re out of sync with those around you, particularly your loved ones. You may find your relationships are strained and communication is challenging. Does it seem as if you are just not on the same page and no longer share the same values? If so, come back to the reason you have this person in your life. If you love him or her unconditionally, know this moment shall pass and the best you can do is bring love and compassion to the situation. In other cases, you may realise that you have simply grown apart and it’s time to move on. If your relationship continues to be peppered by arguments and a lack of respect for one another, then it could be time to let go. Honour yourself and do what is best for you both.

The Lovers reversed can also reflect that the feelings within a relationship are not mutual. One person may be more emotionally involved than the other, and this gap could lead to disappointment and insecurity later down the track. You may be reluctant to open your heart to the relationship for fear of getting hurt.

The reversed Lovers also speaks to self-love and respect. To what extent do you honour and accept who you are and the value you offer in this world? Be mindful, too, if you look at other people and wish you were more like them. Understand that if you can recognise these traits in others, it is because you have them within you. As Dr John Demartini says: ‘When we admire qualities in others, it’s the Universe’s way to get you to wake up and recognise your own strengths – in other words, you need to realise that whatever you perceive in other people you also have within yourself.’

If the Lovers reversed shows up in a reading, you might face a tough choice with significant consequences. Instead of making a decision based on your values, you feel tempted to cut corners and avoid responsibility for your actions. You may think you can get away with it, but the reversed Lovers implores you to think again and choose the path most in alignment with your Highest Good – no matter how hard it might be.

The Lovers reversed can also suggest inner conflicts and being at war with yourself rather than with external forces. It indicates disharmony and a struggle to balance your inner union. Are you punishing yourself for something you have done or considered yourself responsible for? To help you out of this place, you will need to focus on articulating your personal belief systems and values. They will guide you in making better decisions next time. You may want to return to the energy of the Hierophant and seek the counsel and advice of an institution or spiritual mentor.

---

Thank you so much @cybervesna​ for the polish traduction from the official guide book and its associations with the characters!

[fedonciadale]

Hello! Your post about Harry Potter’s problems was so bloody brilliant.

“Then there is the fact that by the end of the book only the very extreme classists are defeated and otherwise “Everything was well”. No, JKR, it is not all well. Harry, Hermione and Ron basically become part of the system!” AAAAAH THANK YOU SO MUCH! I’m reading The Phoenix Potion (currently on chapter 53, LOVING IT), and honestly? I’m seriously considering it canon. Your characters are more canon than JKR’s epilogue and Cursed Child *shudders*.

The Statute of Secrecy’s Checkov’s gun was such a let down! It could have been such an interesting turn of events.

Absolutely agree on your points about the schools. If you think about it, it really doesn’t make any sense, for one simple reason: the language. Krum is Bulgarian and Durmstrang is a Scandinavian school (presumably) that accepts students from where? The entirety of Eastern Europe? What language do they speak? Same goes for Beauxbatons: wiki says that students from France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium attend. Do they all speak French? We could give the Purebloods the benefit of the doubt (maybe magical families are used to learning other languages), but what about the poor Muggleborns that learn they are magic at 11, and soon have to attend a school where the spoken language is unknown to them? Not every Spanish or Portuguese kid knows French. And the rest of Europe? Where are they gonna go? Which language will they have to learn? And the poor children who can’t speak that language very well, how are they going to cope? That’s going to affect their life enormously! Are there also foreign language courses, along with the magical ones? So many unanswered questions.

Really, everything you said was so true. From James Potter, to “girly girls” and “not like other girls”, to the Irish, slavery and antisemitic codes...yikes.

I hated how the Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry was handled. The Gryffindors’ bias and prejudices are never recognized, it’s always the Slytherins who are bullies and the Gryffindors who are the victims, when actually there are many instances throughout the books where the Slytherins are the victims. Both house members are culpable, they’re both awful to each other, and sometimes Gryffindors are pettier...but that might be an unpopular opinion.

If you have the time, would you like to rant about Snape? About the way his character was handled? And also your opinion about the Blacks interests me, as a family in general and also specific members like Regulus and the sisters. And maybe the Weasley twins too? If it’s not too much trouble!

Hi there!

Thanks! Glad you like my little rant!

And glad you like The Phoenix Potion! It's my big baby and I always feel honoured when someone likes it enough to say it's 'canon'. Für me it is anyway!

Phoenix Potion was a way for me to fix one of the biggest issues of HP, but you're not there yet, so I don't want it to spoil it for you.

I'll gladly talk about the things you asked, but could you do me a favour and send in different asks for them? Just 'Severus Snape' for example. That makes it easier for me to organize my answers and the posts. 😃

For now, I stick to the schools. Language is a huge problem there! I could buy Belgians going to France, at least the Flemish Belgians at least know French most of the time. But in Luxembourg they speak a variant of German and they would absolutely go to a German school (being too small a country for a school of their own). And Beauxbatons would have to handle about thrice the number of students than Hogwarts (if you estimate the ratio of muggles / wizarding people is about the same everywhere) and I think in non- European countries the system could be completely different, because schools and universities as we know them have developed from their medieval ancestors (which would have meant they spoke Latin in Hogwarts when it was founded - which is a pet headcanon of mine anyway because we have all the spells with Latin roots)

Anyway let's stick to Europe for now: I mean Scandinavians nowadays are fluent in English and most know another Scandinavian language but I think most countries would prefer to have a small school with their own language over children having to learn a new language just for getting basic education. In medieval schools in Western and Central Europe they spoke Latin as universal language but it was only for a small percentage of the population. If you want to educate all wizards you can't do that.

And sorry not sorry, there is absolutely no fucking way that Germany doesn't have its own school. Germany is obsessed with education (just one word Jodeldiplom, 🤣). I should know this as a German. Education pretty much defines your social status and the number of certificates you get have a huge impact on your salary. Education her is much more than just school education. So I headcanon that there are three schools for the German speaking population of Europe : one in Bavaria in a former baroque monastery just at the border to Austria (and boy are the Austrians pissed about that, because it used to be Austria). It's opulent and fantastic and the puttos of the ornaments are semi-alive and prank the students and teachers in a harmless way. Another school is somewhere in the Alps in Switzerland and it's for the rich and uppity and tuition fees are high. And then there is the school in the North close to Hamburg perhaps, no fees because you shouldn't pay for education and that is the school that had a founder who was basically a carbon copy of Helga Hufflepuff. Lol!

Italy would have two schools as well, one in the North and one in the South, because there is no reason on earth that would make a Northerner go to a Southern school and vice versa.

So this got a bit longish as well. You probably see why it's better if you send several asks!

Thanks!

EDIT: why are there no magical universities? Why don't they learn anything non- magical like Math, foreign languages (although the lack of languages might be because Hogwarts is an English school, 😂)?

[danwhobrowses]

Why ‘The Karate Kid Part II’ Deserves More Respect

So guess what film I finished watching today? Of course, the Karate Kid franchise is considered iconic mainly for its first entry; Wax on Wax off, Skeleton fights, Sweep the Leg and the Crane Kick all cemented its legacy that allowed Cobra Kai to also be such a success. But imagine my shock when the approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for Part II is 45% - 21% lower than the Jaden Smith ‘The Karate Kung Fu Kid’ version (and Part III is scored 15%, which is also super harsh but hard to debate outside of the magnificence of Terry Silver). Originally this was just gonna be a general post of how much I enjoyed retreading Part II, but upon seeing that score I had to give it my ‘Deserves More Respect’ posts.

It is an off-chance, but if you haven’t watched this film there will be spoilers within, I encourage you to watch it before reading, and maybe watch it again if you have so it’s fresh in the mind

Let’s start with a controversial point shall we? There are several parts where Part II is actually better than the original. Now I know! There’s a lot about the original which is iconic, but nostalgia does blind you to other shortcomings and while it’s easy to sell the first part because of its mystique, a sequel has the added pressure of rising above and developing on old and new themes set by the predecessor. The Premise In case you decided against refreshing your memory. Karate Kid Part II starts with a recap of Part I, a bit of content that was meant to be Part I’s final scene (in the script, not for filming) and then a timeskip. Ali with an i is gone - brutally dumping Daniel for some Football Player before Senior Prom and after crashing his car, Daniel’s mother is in Fresno for work and Miyagi has received a letter from his home Okinawa in news of his father’s fading health. The stage is set for Daniel and the audience to learn more about the iconic Mr. Miyagi and the life he left behind. Okay, so there is bad in this film Part II deserves respect, but it’s not perfect. It definitely gets messy near the end with Daniel’s antagonist Chozen, he mainly took beats from Johnny Lawrence in physically confronting Daniel when he could with a bunch of no-named goons and he fought pretty similarly to Johnny in catch counters and leg strikes. The opening recap did take a lot of time too, while the ending remained somewhat abrupt having just beaten up Chozen to embrace Kumiko (who had a delayed recovery after being punched once). While not bad, a fair amount of retreaded content felt like downgrades of the original; Chozen and Sato lacked the charisma of Johnny and Kreese, the crane kick was far more impressive than the drum technique and the Tournament setting was grander than the O-Bon festival. But, there are Iconic Moments in this film too Part I may have the Crane Kick and the Skeletons and the Training and Sweep the Leg. But people may forget that Part II had awesome moments too.

Like Daniel chopping through 6 Sheets of Ice! If that isn’t one hell of a power play I don’t know what is. It is a moment genuinely impressive in and outside of the 80s cheese universe of Karate Kid, and it gets referenced in Season 2 of Cobra Kai.

Also referenced in Season 2 is Miyagi vs Kreese. While this is the intended ending for Part I, it certainly acted better at the start of Part II, especially given that is foreshadows the situation Daniel finds himself in at the end of the movie. This moment is equally iconic as it completely encapsulates the character of both senseis - Kreese the confident brute brought to a sniveling mouse when size and power failed him and Miyagi the cool-headed and vastly more intelligent fighter still with the cheeky prankster lightness to him as he honks the scared shitless Kreese on the nose. Perfect.

While I did want to cite the Tea Ceremony as well I think the more iconic moment for Part II had to be Miyagi chopping the log during the storm. The storm itself is a very well-done scene which unmasks several characters in the face of adversity. True tension, worry and stakes are sold as the village are in danger of the cruel whims of nature, an act which is all too real for Sato when the house he’s in collapses on him in the calm before his scheduled deathmatch with Miyagi. Not only is this again some great foreshadowing by the rule of three (Daniel asking if Miyagi can chop a log like Sato is doing with a banner and then Miyagi and Sato meeting and seeing Sato fail to chop a log) it proves a pivotal point where Sato turns from aggrieved antagonist to repenting ally. A great show of power and friendship as Miyagi metaphorically breaks the rift between their friendship that weighs Sato down. Okay, we hear you, but how is it better? I do have to preface that I do still love Part I, I have to because in pointing out where Part II is better I have to pick at Part I’s faults. While the ending is messy Part II definitely has much better pacing, until the skeletons scene Part I doesn’t really pick up because it has to set up, Part II while it does recap doesn’t need to worry about it. Giving Miyagi the main plot was definitely Part II’s strongest suit. Part I profited from Miyagi being the ‘mysterious old teacher’ but learning a lot more about his humanity and history was engrossing and it allowed positive development for Miyagi and Daniel, especially their bond as a surrogate father and son when Daniel personally goes out of his way to support Miyagi on a very personal matter. The main characters maintain their charm as well, still a lovely array of life lessons in Part II more than just finding balance, Miyagi teaches Daniel through words and action on taking time to breathe, to refocus when imbalanced, to forgive rather than to harbour hate, mercy, selflessness and humbleness

“never put passion before principle. Even if win, you lose.” - Mr. Miyagi

The scenes involving Miyagi and his father were some of the most deep and emotive of the series up until Cobra Kai, some still haven’t been topped such as Miyagi’s dad’s first words to his son or when Daniel talked about when his father died.  And say what you will about Chozen, he does have a lot of Johnny vibes but a lot of the character we believed was Johnny due to nostalgia goggles was more fitting of Chozen’s manner. The story did a great job in making sure Chozen was always an asshole, at times Johnny did at least display honour and grace but Chozen was always sore about stuff and quick to claim dishonour even when he was in the wrong. Contrary to Johnny it’s more about his family than it is about a girl, which allowed a lot more freedom in the plot. Whether you felt Elizabeth Shue’s Ali with an i was prettier than Tamlyn Tomita’s Kumiko is up to personal preference, but the messy-haired Kumiko definitely had a slightly improved presence in Part II than Ali did, with actual focus on her own feelings outside of attraction to Daniel, her ambition to become a dancer directly linking to the O-Bon Festival - which in turn related to the Drum technique - as well as the delicately beautiful Tea Ceremony scene and actually contributing to the final fight (granted Ali wouldn’t be allowed to). Also Daniel didn’t try to eat her face which is a general improvement to the romantic subplot, extra applause has to go to Tomita here too because this was legitimately her first role - Shue had her second so that’s impressive too - and both women had good careers going forward. The increased stakes definitely worked in the favour of Part II as well, as sequel culture is forced to do, but by moving to Okinawa (actually filmed in Hawaii) we opened the door to better suit Miyagi’s world while keeping Daniel the fish out of water. I can’t speak too much for appropriation because there is still kinda some ‘white saviour’ undertones but I didn’t feel like Japan was treated negatively in this light, its culture of the O-Bon Festival and the Tea Ceremony was treated with the utmost respect and explained without pandering, the flute music had definitely stepped up its game for the soundtrack as did the imagery. Can also appreciate that Daniel does go for the Crane kick when fighting Chozen but is parried. Added hat tip has to go to costuming too. A lot of costumes would have to have distinct Kamon such as Sato’s twin fish and Miyagi’s bonsai on a lot of their clothing

Between Sato and Miyagi the colours of their clothes often code their emotions towards each other, with Sato usually in grey and Miyagi in white or cream, when Sato and Miyagi prepare for death they are in black and when Sato wants forgiveness he moves to a lighter shade. While Part I also used black and white to differ Johnny and Daniel, Part II put Chozen and Daniel in the more Japanese-themed Red and Blue. While both men wear red, blue and whites at time, Chozen’s clothes almost devolve from the white he debuts in as his darker side comes out before flat out embracing yellow after his chance to prove his honour in the storm is refused (and he’s in white then), while Daniel often moves to Red or red tones even in his blue shirt. Kumiko also moves from white to blue, sometimes even purple, in set up to the final fight to have the primary colours stand out in the colourful crowd of the O-Bon festival, but even in the blue Kumiko had red to pair her connection with Daniel. Also her Yukata at the festival is just stunning, the Great Wave off Kanagawa print is a nice touch.

Anything else we should know? It might not be much else about the film itself I can tell you, but I do appreciate something I’m starting to call ‘The Rocky Connection’ when it comes to Karate Kid. Like Part I’s ‘You’re the Best (Around)’ was shortlisted for Rocky III, Part II’s song ‘Glory of Love’ was shortlisted for Rocky IV’s theme, losing to ‘Hearts on Fire’, Bill Conti also chose to score this film instead of Rocky IV. I like to pair this with Daniel’s Rocky-esque character, he has that same kind of swagger but a lot more naive and childlike. Martin Kove also gets a nod because those bleeding hands were legit, he had an accident on-set and the footage was kept for the final cut. Tamlyn Tomita wasn’t the only film debut for Part II, B.D. Wong of...well, several famous roles including but not limited to Shang in the animated Mulan, Dr. Wu in the Jurassic Park franchise, Hugo Strange in Gotham and many more, also had his debut here in a minor speaking role when he’s handing out flyers for the dance party to Kumiko and Daniel before the Ice Chopping Scene. So, why does it deserve respect A film that adds to a beloved character in a respectful fashion without having really any god awful moments does not deserve a 4.5/10 rating. It may not have as emphatic an ending or as great a villain but it has a captivating plot and a good pace, better stakes and much more emotionally driven and responsive scenes. A lot of effort and dedication went into this film to explore new dimensions of the main characters in a fashion which was enjoyable and at times heartwarming. And characters are given human moments, even Miyagi confesses himself not to be perfect and it keeps each character grounded. Even to this day parts of Part II are remembered fondly rather than the campness that Part III had outside of Terry Silver and his magnificent ponytail, the fondness also continues to reflect in Cobra Kai with homages and fan theories of Daniel going to Okinawa again and even re-encountering Chozen. Not to mention it grossed $113m on a $13m budget and got nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar (losing to Top Gun) Part II was a good and enjoyable film which deserves far more credit than to be rated this low, for that it deserves respect.

[catsafarithewriter]

“Can’t you see I’m busy procrastinating?” - Haru/Baron, potentially Cups of Tea AU? OwO

A/N: One Cups of Tea AU coming right up! This was inspired by this post, and although I don’t have Haru and Baron sharing your requested line (Hiromi gets that honour, or close to it), this is one option for how Haru and Baron may have met for the first time. (i.e. chaotically) Enjoy! 

x

Moving into a flat with Hiromi was always going to be chaotic. 

Still, nothing could prepare Haru for the sight of her best friend cursing at the light switch. 

“Work was that bad, huh?” Haru ask as she dumped her bag and coat by the front door. 

“Ngh,” Hiromi said. 

“Alright. Well, that’s an answer.” Haru kicked off her shoes onto the mat just as the lounge light turned off. “Uh, Hiromi? Some light would be nice.”

“I’m trying, I’m trying.” 

“What do you mean you’re trying? How--”

Hiromi grabbed Haru’s arm and, in the dim shadows, dragged her over to the centre of the chaos. “Look. Watch.” She flicked on the switch and light flooded the room.”

“Very impressive, Hiromi,” Haru deadpanned. “And if we move to the kitchen, perhaps we’ll find that turning the tap makes water appear--”

“Just wait.”

Several dubious seconds passed. 

“Well, as much as I’d love to stay here with you all evening and marvel at the wonders of modern technology, I have rice that needs cooking, so--”

The light went out.

“Hiromi...”

“I didn’t do anything!”

“You must have done something - that or the bulb has blown--”  

Staring straight at Haru, Hiromi flicked the switch. Light returned... for all of ten seconds before depositing them back into gloom. “See?” she yelped. “See? It’s not me! Something is seriously wrong with this place. Maybe it’s--″

“Don’t say haunted.”

“Do you have a better solution?”

“This building is brand new, Hiromi; it’s probably just some faulty wiring.”

“Maybe they build this place over some spirit’s home, and now it’s angry--”

“Unlikely, given that they tore down a warehouse to build it.”

“How do you know that?”

“Unlike some, I actually read all of the brochure before signing up.” Haru shrugged, and the light came back on. “It’ll be... teething problems or something.”

The light turned off. 

“Yeah, well let’s just hope the oven isn’t also ‘teething,’” Hiromi said. 

x

Luckily, whatever ailment had taken hold of the living room light seemed content to remain contained for the time being. 

Still, Haru had to shut her bedroom door securely and stuff blankets along the base to stop the erratic light beyond from keeping her awake. It became routine, just as much as the funny key jiggle needed to lock the apartment door, or the way that one of the floorboards tilted if you stood on the wrong end.

Hiromi was less accepting about the whole shebang. 

“Let - me - turn - you - on - you - blasted - thing!” Hiromi cursed as she battled with the disobedient light switch. 

Haru strolled from the kitchen, dinner in one hand and her phone in the other. “Just use one of the table lamps,” she offered as she perched on the sofa. “They don’t misbehave.”

“I don’t want a table lamp, I want the big light to do its damn job.”     

Haru watched the unintentional light show and distantly wondered what they were accidentally spelling out in Morse code. Then it gave her a headache, so she looked back to her phone. “Your dinner’s going cold, Hiromi.”

“I don’t care. I will win!”

“Against faulty wiring? I think the only thing you’re going to win is an electric shock.”

“I’m not going to let a haunted light bulb beat me!”

For not the first time, Haru wondered how much simpler her life would be if she didn’t have a drama queen for a best friend. “It’s not haunted, Hiromi.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Haru’s phone dinged, and she opened the message. She grinned. “Because I’ve just discovered the real reason.” She scrolled through the text. “I got talking to the IT department at work - you remember Chika, right? - and they’ve done a little digging and they say...” Her eyes widened at the explanation. “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” 

“What?” Hiromi catapulted herself over to Haru’s side, her battle with the light switch all but forgotten. “What did they say?”

“Apparently these new condos use a - and I quote - ‘unique and innovative binary code’ to connect the switches to the lights and should have a radius of 30 feet.” Haru paused. “The actual radius is much bigger.”

“How much bigger?”

“Uh, about 40 apartments bigger?”

Hiromi considered this. Then a wicked grin spread across her face. “Are you saying that I’m controlling the lights of 40 other flats?”

“Not... quite? Based on the limitations of the binary code, there’s only 16 possible code combinations, so basically our switch controls the light of at least one other apartment, maybe more.”

“So. Not haunted.”

“Not haunted,” Haru agreed. 

x

Haru entered to the furious clacking of the light switch and the sporadic light show dominating the flat. She dumped her groceries, sidestepping the bag of laundry that Hiromi had promised to clear before she’d left, and found her best friend hunkered down before the switch and a notebook. 

“Hiromi--”

“Not now! I’m concentrating!”

Haru patiently waited, watching Hiromi’s brow furrow in intense concentration as she clicked through a specific pattern. Just above that, Haru could hear muttered letters. 

Eventually, Hiromi sat back, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “Done!”

“I hope you’re referring to the clothes you were planning to take to the laundromat,” Haru said. She leant against the door-frame and gave her friend a look. 

“Ah. That.” 

“Or maybe you were talking about the dishes in the sink you said you’d clean.”

“Oh. Well--”

“Or perhaps it was the recycling that needed taking out.” Haru raised an eyebrow and was rewarded with an unflustered flush from Hiromi. “What are you doing?”

“Procrastinating. Obviously.”

“Obviously.” Haru leant in and snatched up the notebook.

“Hey!”

Haru raised the book out of her friend’s reach with a teasing, “Shorty,” before flipping it open to the most recent page. A loose sheet fell out, the alphabet carefully written out and a series of dots and dashes beneath it. On the bound page, sentences were spelled out, once again connected by dashes and dots. “Hiromi, are you... talking to the other flats via Morse code?”

“No! ...Maybe.”

“Fear me, fear me, who dare disturbs my rest?” Haru read, flipping further through the notebook and discovering whole conversations carefully converted into Morse code and back. “I come for vengance - I mean, honestly, is this the best you can do? Also, that is not how  you spell ‘vengeance.’”

The lights began flickering, and Hiromi snatched back the book in Haru’s inattention. “Shush, let me see what they’re saying back.”

“Hiromi Kasumi Tomoko, are you pretending to haunt someone’s flat?”

“No...?” Hiromi’s nose wrinkled in concentration as she translated the light’s flicking into words, a wide grin revealing the success of her deception. The lights stabilised and she grinned up at Haru. “Okay, maybe a little bit.”

“Hiromi, you are a terrible, terrible person.”

“Aw, you say the nicest things.”

“How long has this been going on for?”

“Uh... a week?”

“Hiromi!”

“Hey, they started it! They’re the ones who were trying to communicate in Morse code to appease the ‘spirit on the other side;’ I just responded. What else was I meant to do?”

“Ignore it?” Haru offered. “Tell them the truth? Not pretend to be a ghost?”

“Okay, sure, but where’s the fun in that?” Hiromi tapped at the page, thinking. “Maybe we should tell them that the ghost cannot rest until they do something to appease it. Like sing the entirety of Mamma Mia, or meow for a day, or--”

Haru yanked the book away. “That’s enough of that.”

“Oh come on, Haru--”

“You are not going to prank some complete stranger! I’m sure it’s hilarious, but there’s probably some poor idiot hyperventilating and googling exorcist rates right now, so just come clean and tell them--”  

The lights turned off. And on. And off.

A persistent, almost aggressive pattern began to emerge. 

“H-Hiromi? What are they saying?”

“Uh, give me my notebook and I’ll tell you.”

Haru numbly passed it across. 

On. Off. On. Pause. Off. On. Off. 

“A. R. L. I. A. R. L. I. A. R. L. I,” Haru translated. “Arli? Iarl? What’s that? I don’t--”

Haru leant across, barely taking her eyes off the light, and scrawled, “Liar,” onto the page.

“Oh.”

“I’m guessing they’ve finally clued in,” Haru said. “I wonder what made them realise...”

The pattern changed, and Hiromi frantically copied out the newly-forming letters. She gave a funny squeak.      

“Hiromi?”

“I am the ghost,” Hiromi read in a wheezing sort of voice. “Fear me.”    

“Oh, for...” Haru slammed to her feet, grabbing her shoes and making a beeline for the door. 

“Haru, don’t leave me with the ghost!”

“It’s not a ghost, Hiromi; someone is just paying your trick back at you and I’m going to find out who.” She raised her phone. “I’m going to stand in the car park and see if I can spot the other flat - or flats - we’re battling with. You stay here and keep the light show going if it starts to stop - as long as it’s unique, I should be able to pin them down. We’re going to solve this tonight.”

x

From what Haru could see, there were two other apartments that shared their ‘haunted’ light show, and the first one they located greeted them with twin screams and the sound of something shattering when they knocked. 

Haru raised an eyebrow at Hiromi in an admonishing ‘I hope you’re pleased with yourself’ fashion. 

For her part, Hiromi did look fairly amused. 

Haru knocked again, and this time she heard frantic scrabbling to the door and several inventive curses. Eventually the door swung open and two men stood in the doorway. They were built of opposites; one tall, dark, and build like a stick, wearing a NASA t-shirt, and the other round and light-skinned, and wearing a sports jersey that had an indistinguishable team or - come to that - sport. 

There was the stench of incense from inside, and both were wearing a comical assortment of crosses, crucifixes, and other wards around hteir necks. The larger one had a string of garlic on top of all that. 

“Are yer the exorcists?” he asked. 

Haru glared at Hiromi in her best ‘look what you’ve done’ manner. “No, but--”  

“Then now ain’t a good time,” he said and shut the door. 

Haru slammed her foot into the gap before the man could finish the task, and attempted her best winning smile. “We, um - that is, my friend has an apology to make.”

The large man narrowed his eyes. “Why? Did she kill the ghost that’s haunting us?”

“Don’t be stupid,” the tall man reprimanded. “The ghost said she died a 100 years ago - her murderer would be long gone by now.” He frowned. “Unless...”

Haru’s winning smile faltered.

“She’s also a ghost!” the first man yelped. He thrust a crucifix in their direction, vigorously crossing himself. Hiromi looked liked she was fighting the urge to collapse with laughter.

Haru pushed her aside before Hiromi could lose that particular fight. “Look, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. You’re not haunted.”

“Tell that to our flat!”

“There’s been a mistake with the main light system,” Haru barrelled on, very aware she was fast in danger of losing her nerve, “which seems to have caused some of the switches in different flats to link up. So, uh, when we turn on our light, it turns on yours too, and vice versa...”

Both men stared at her and Haru wondered how good her chances were of outrunning them. Maybe she didn’t need to be that fast... just faster than Hiromi... 

Then the tall one rounded on his flatmate. “I told you there’d be a scientific explanation!”

“Yeah, well I didn’t hear you complaining when I bought the crucifixes!”

“I should never have listened to you!”

“I didn’t ask yer to!”

“It’s your fault our apartment stinks of incense and garlic now!”

“I’m not the one who’s been parading round as a ghost for a week!”

“That... is a good point.”

Both men simultaneously remembered their visitors, and Haru gulped. She firmly steered Hiromi into their main line of sight. “My friend has some apologising to do.”

Hiromi grinned weakly, and waved. “Hello.”

“You!”

“You’re the one who’s been messing with our light?!”

“Unintentionally, at first,” Hiromi said. 

“And after?” the tall one asked. 

Hiromi hesitated. “Maybe have been slightly less unintentional.”

“And even now, yer still at it?” the larger one demanded, waving a hand to the flashing lights. 

“Um... that’s not me.”

“And why should we believe you?”

Hiromi and Haru both pointed across the corridor, to where corresponding flickering lights, perfectly in time with the men’s flat, could be seen flashing beneath the door of another apartment. “Meet culprit number two,” Haru said. 

“Okay, that’s fairly convincing,” the taller man admitted. He sighed and offered a hand. “I’m Toto, and the mountain beside me is Muta.”

“Oi, don’t go giving our names to the fake ghosts, birdbrain!”

“Hiromi, Haru,” Haru introduced. She took the hand. “Sorry about the prank.”

“Even if it was hilarious,” Hiromi added. 

Haru rolled her eyes for Toto to see. “Hiromi, don’t make he revoke your baking privileges.” 

“Right. Shutting up.”

Conversation was brought to an abrupt halt as Muta cannon-balled past them and up to the final door of the light show. He hammered at it. “Hey, open up!” he roared. “We know what you’ve been doing!”

Haru raised an eyebrow at Toto. “Your friend’s subtle.”

“This is one of his good days,” Toto replied. He marched up to his flatmate and, apparently undaunted by Muta’s self-righteous ire, grabbed his fist before it could make progress through the door. “Hey, perhaps we shouldn’t go breaking down doors in a brand new apartment complex, maybe? Or do you really just have fluff for brains?”

“At least I don’t have my head in the clouds, birdbrain.”

“That’s rich, coming from--”

“Can I help you?”

The door had opened, and a man with an English accent, ginger hair, and the brightest green eyes Haru had ever seen stood in the opening. He wore a red waistcoat over a white shirt, the latter with the sleeves rolled up. And with a mug of tea clasped in one hand, he didn’t exactly look like the prank mastermind that Haru had been expecting. 

Muta seemed to have no such second-thoughts. “You!” he bellowed. “You’re the ghost!”

The man blinked, and blush rose up alongside his freckles.

Okay, so maybe he was less innocent than he looked. “Oh.”

“What do you have to say for yerself?!”

The man looked at the small crowd before him, and smiled sheepishly. 

“...Do you want some tea?”

[radical-desiderium]

I've been seeing a lot on my dash about plastic surgery discourse, and I wanted to talk about why I consider plastic surgery to go against doctor-patient ethics. So most of you probably know the Hippocratic Oath, the most famous oath applied to doctors, which in its modern form goes something like this:

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

I bolded the parts I wanted to specifically address.

The Hippocratic Oath states that medicine is to "apply all required measures for the benefit of the sick." People who undergo cosmetic surgery are not physically sick nor are the surgeries they undergo in any way "required measures" as they will not die or have their physical health decline as a result of being denied that surgery. The oath also states that one's goal should be to avoid "those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism", and in my opinion, plastic surgery falls squarely in the former category. What else could you call an elective surgery if not "overtreatment"?

The oath then goes on to state that with great power comes great responsibility, and that doctors should not take the lives that rest in their hands lightly, and that "this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty." People die under the knife receiving plastic surgery all the time. People die in recovery from complications in those surgeries often as well. Any deaths resulting from plastic surgery are inherently unnecessary deaths and the responsiblity for those deaths lies firmly in the hands of the physicians who agreed to do it. There was no tangible benefit for the patient and they took the risk of that patient dying, however small, in return for being paid to perform their services.

Leading into my next point, the Hippocratic Oath states that doctors don't treat illnesses, they treat patients, and that the welfare of those patients should be at the forefront of the doctor's mind when performing their duty. The next line expands upon that, stating that it is a doctor's duty to "prevent disease whenever [they] can, for prevention is preferable to cure." Plastic surgery goes against the patient welfare. It does less than prevent disease, it even goes so far as to cause it. There is the introduction of injury and the potential for infection to previously healthy tissue in pretty much any cosmetic surgery procedure you could name. The patient has to undergo months of post-operative recovery from a surgery they didn't need. Complications with permanent health effects can develop, such as those seen with Breast Implant Illness. If prevention is truly preferable to cure, then it would be reasonable to say it would preferable to not perform these procedures at all.

In 2017, the World Medical Association revised the Declaration of Geneva and made a sort of successor to the Hippocratic Oath called the Physician's Pledge, which goes:

AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE to dedicate my life to the service of humanity;

THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;

I WILL RESPECT the autonomy and dignity of my patient;

I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life;

I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing, or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;

I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;

I WILL PRACTISE my profession with conscience and dignity and in accordance with good medical practice;

I WILL FOSTER the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession;

I WILL GIVE to my teachers, colleagues, and students the respect and gratitude that is their due;

I WILL SHARE my medical knowledge for the benefit of the patient and the advancement of healthcare;

I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard;

I WILL NOT USE my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;

I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely, and upon my honour.

The second line already is broken by cosmetic surgeons; it's apparent that the the health and well-being of their patients is not their "first consideration", because if it was, they would have refused to perform the surgery initially. They are prioritizing something over the health of the patient, whether that may be the patient's own desires or the monetary gain they stand to receive.

And I would also go so far as to say that they go against the fourth line as well, because I would argue that you cannot be a plastic surgeon and still maintain "the utmost respect for human life". Any self-respecting medical professional takes any and all surgeries seriously and understands that regardless of human ability and technology, there remains an intrinsic risk in every surgery, no matter how small or routine. Plastic surgeons are aware that the procedures they perform could very well result in either the death of their patient or a severe decline in their quality of life, and any doctor who refuses to acknowledge that is likely overconfident in their skills. That's not saying that every procedure will end that way, but that the possibility for complications is always there. To perform plastic surgery is to weigh that risk, to weigh the value of a human life, against the gain of that cosmetic procedure being performed, and to then decide to proceed anyway.

My problem with plastic surgery doesn't lie in the "choice" of the patients, it lies in the ethics of the doctor. Plastic surgery is not an issue of whether or not it is right for consenting patients to seek out those surgeries; it's an issue of whether or not it is ethical for the doctors to be performing them.

There are variations upon variations of the Hippocratic Oath, but the heart of the message stays the same: prioritize the health of your patient and don't play around with life. Plastic surgeons had to become doctors first before they became plastic surgeons. They should be upheld to the same ethical code as other doctors, they took the same or similar oaths as any other doctor, and a surgery done for no health reason whatsoever is a surgery that should not be performed.

TLDR: Plastic surgeons are doctors first and plastic surgeons second, and performing plastic surgery violates any and all oaths they have taken regarding their medical career, as they profit off of performing procedures where there is no tangible benefit to the patient's health.

[qvietlight]

time for the big archie fact file!!

The Basics

Name? Archie Virginia Taylor

Age? 37

Approximate height? 5′8

Hair colour? Blonde

Eye colour? Blue

Do they speak with an accent? No

Where are they from? Zuzu City

Where are they now? Stardew Valley

Backstory

Who are their parents? Charles and Anthea Taylor

What is their earliest memory? Meeting her little brother, Aubrey, for the first time. She turned to her parents and asked if they were sure he had to come home with them.

What did they want to be when they grew up? Still a ghost hunter, but more the Scooby Doo type - busting baddies and hanging out with the loch ness monster.

What did/do their parents want them to be? Archie’s job is a point of contention with her father. Charles wants her to have a ‘proper’ career. Any career. Preferably something in an office that made use of her degree.

Do they have siblings? Older or younger? Brothers or sisters? Yes, one younger brother, Aubrey. He’s adopted, and they have a very good relationship.

Do they have or have they ever had children? How many? No. Gross.

Do they or have ever had a significant other? Are they still with them? Why? Why not? Penelope. They were together for fifteen years, and broke up only a couple of months ago. Penelope wanted to get married, Archie didn’t.

Up until now, what’s the most noteworthy thing they’ve done? To them? To the people around them? To Archie? Starting That’s the Spirit! To other people? Graduating summa cum laude from Colombia with joint honours in Sociology and Political Science.

Tastes

What’s your character’s favourite colour? Red

Do they/would they choose to wear a scent? What would it be? She wears a Jo Malone scent - Blackberry and Bay.

Do they care about what things look like? All things, or only some? In some ways? She likes things organised, and likes to appear put-together herself.

What’s their favourite ice cream flavour? Pistachio.

Are they a tea, or coffee drinker? Or soft drinks, or do they drink a lot of alcohol? What kind? Coffee coffee coffee! She doesn’t really drink soft drinks, but in terms of alcohol, she prefers her drinks uncomplicated. Beer, whiskey, etc.

What kind of books do they read? What TV shows and movies do they watch? Mostly non-fiction, she’s always looking to expand her knowledge in whatever way she can, but she does have a soft spot for pulpy detective novels. In terms of TV, she watches lots of documentaries, and likes British Crime dramas. She’s also a big Twin Peaks fan.

What kind of music do they like? Do they like music at all? Is it loud? Angry? Fronted by a female singer? She’s into it.

If they were about to die, what would they have as their last meal? Japanese food. Bang bang cauliflower, gyoza, yaki soba...

Are they hedonistic? In all cases? Or does practicality sometimes/always/often win out? No, Archie is practical to a fault.

Do they have any philias or phobias? Not really. She’s largely unflappable.

Morals, Beliefs, and Faith

Do they have an internal or an external moral code? Internal, I guess. She’s not above a little light law-breaking to accomplish what she needs. 

To what extent are their actions dictated by this code? Mostly?

Do they believe in a God or Gods/Goddesses/Higher being of some description? Nah.

Are they superstitious? Not really.

Do they believe in an afterlife? If so, what’s it like?  Not really. All of her research has disproved an afterlife so far.

Do they have any specific beliefs that manifest obviously? No.

Are the respectful of the beliefs of others? To what extent? She tries to be. But some people are stupid.

Have they ever had to stand up to criticism for being religious? Or not being religious? Nope.

Would they be more likely to act for the good of the one, or the good of the many? The good of the one.

Relationships

Do they make friends easily? Not at all. Her personality is kind of abrasive.

Do they have a best friend? It was Penelope. So not anymore.

Can they get people to do what they want them to? If so, how? Sometimes? Mostly though just being completely relentless.

Do they have a lot of romantic relationships? Serious, or short term? Not a lot. She had a couple of girlfriends in college before Penelope, but that’s all.

Do they fall in and out of love easily? Not at all. It takes her a long time to warm to people.

Do strangers and acquaintances actually like them when they meet? No.

Do they have a network? Probably just her dad and brother now. 

What is their relationship like with their family? Complex. After her mother died, she and Aubrey were raised very hands-off, and their father always treated them as adults rather than children because he simply didn’t know how else to relate to them. Archie and her father are very alike, which is part of the reason they butt heads so much. But there is no doubting their love for each other. 

Are they still in touch with non-family people they were in touch with a year ago? Five years? Ten? More? She’s got a couple of friends from college she still talks to, but her social group isn’t exactly huge.

Do they like children? Do they want children of their own? No, and no. 

Physical Appearance

How does this character dress? How would they choose to dress, if all options were open to them? Mostly dark clothes, clean and simple, and Doc Martens.

Do they have any tattoos? What do they mean? None.

Do they have piercings? How many? Just her ears, one in each lobe and one in her right cartilage.

Do they have scars? Where did they come from? Yes, from gender reassignment surgery. 

Do they alter their appearance in some way on a regular basis? She wears makeup almost every day.

Is there something they’d choose to change about their appearance if they had the opportunity to? Nope, she looks hot. 

Is there something about their appearance they’re particularly proud of/happy with? She’s got nice eyes, and she likes her freckles. 

Objectively, are they physically attractive? Fairly plain? Unattractive? Attractive...

Do they have an accurate mental picture and opinion of their physical appearance? Yes, I think so.

How much time do they spend thinking about their physical appearance? Not much at all anymore. She looks how she always wanted.

General Knowledge

Can they navigate their own local area without getting lost? To what degree? Yeah, she’s confident and fairly intuitive.

Do they know who the top politician or monarch is where they live? What about elsewhere? Yes, she tries to keep up to date with current affairs, being a Poli-Sci major.

Do they know if/where there are any major conflicts going on right now? Yes.

Do they know the composition of water? Yeah.

Do they know how to eat a pomegranate? Obviously.

Are they good with the technology available to them? Average? Completely hopeless? Her lifestyle is very tech-based, so yes.

Could they paint a house? Without making a mess of it? She certainly thinks she could - whether that’s actually true is debatable.

Could they bake a cake? Would you eat it if they did? She can follow instructions because she’s not an idiot, so the cake would be fine, but she wouldn’t be excited to waste time on it.

Do they know how to perform basic maintenance on the common mode of transportation? She knows how to change a tire and the oil in her car. She has to, since her car is a pile of crap.

Do they know the price of a loaf of bread? Yes.

Specific Knowledge

Do they have a specific qualification in a narrow area? No, he dropped out of college.

Is there something they do or know exceptionally well that most other people don’t? Well, she knows a lot about mythology and the supernatural. 

Do people often comment on a particular skill or area of knowledge to this character? Behind their back? Probably not?

Is there an area this character could be considered top of their field or a genius in? Probably not. She’s very intelligent, but lots of people are.

Have they deliberately sought to gain knowledge in a specific area? If so, why? She deliberately seeks knowledge in many different areas, because you can never be too educated.

Do they speak more than one language? More than two? Why? She speaks English, and some rudimentary Chinese and Spanish. It just seemed smart to learn.

Does their cultural background effect what they would be expected to know? Idk, white people shit?

Have they ever been publicly acknowledged for being well-versed in something? Well, she graduated college summa cum laude so yes!

Have they ever been bullied for knowing a lot about something? People wouldn’t dare. She’s scary.

Do they actively seek new knowledge, or let it come to them naturally? Actively.

Miscellaneous

What did they have for breakfast this morning? A cup of coffee. 

What ridiculous belief/s did they have as a child? ): None really. 

Do they like marshmallows? Not really. Not vegetarian.

Do they sleep on their side, front, or back? Side

Do they work better with sound or silence? Sound, but only sound she can moderate herself.

Do they have a strange obsession with something minor? Ghosts? Mythological creatures?

Do they like art? Some? 

How fast can they run? Fast enough.

Do they prefer to sit on the floor or on a chair? Chair.

What do they want, right now? Another cup of coffee. And a cigarette.

[lovehaswonangelnumbers]

New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/archangel-gabriels-daily-message-tuesday-april-21-2020/

Archangel Gabriel's DAILY MESSAGE ~ TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2020

Archangel Gabriel’s DAILY MESSAGE ~ TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2020

By Shelley Young

Perfectionism is something many enlightening souls struggle with. This is due to their deep desire to make sure the shift occurs on your planet because many of you are holding the cell memory of times where a shift was possible and was not successful.

Because of this many of you are deeply committed to honouring your soul mission and are very serious about this and agonize over making the right choices. This can get challenging if you are striving to satisfy everyone from a 3D perspective while trying to anchor higher vibrational energies. You can mistake other’s lack of understanding or differing options as feedback on your mission, which can cause you to stall because you do not wish to make a mistake.

Dear Ones, hear us when we say your quest for perfection has nothing to do with the agreement of others or the understanding or support of a 3D world. That is seeking approval from an energetic layer that simply cannot see you in your truth. The perfection you are truly seeking comes from always staying true to what your heart and inner wisdom is guiding you towards as a true pioneer of the light. It is from there you know you can never, ever make a mistake and will continue to drive the great shift of consciousness that is occurring on your planet. ~Archangel Gabriel through Shelley Young

~~~~~~~~~

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[mrneighbourlove]

Negotiations in a Fiery Alliance: Ch 5. Powerful Fiery Union

Zannah took a breath as she cracked her neck, feeling drained from the meeting. One of Annuciata’s brothers made a pass at her as she first entered her room. She had to put on a pretty face and explain she just wasn’t interested at the time being for any tours.

Getting herself ready, she had one of the palace servants escort her to the Queen. With a knock at the door, the maid gave a bow. “My Queen. Emperor Zannah wishes to attend the spa session with you.”

"Very well, let her in." Queen Annuciata responded from inside the spa room. She was sitting in the pool, full of steaming water, relaxing with her long hair in an up-do. The hot water did wonders for her sore muscles and feet from the high heels. "And attend to her needs."

Zannah had her clothes taken and folded nicely. Using a towel to cover herself, she dipped into the pool, the water sizzling at her touch as she adjusted the water perfectly to her needs. Throwing the towel away for the maids to take away, she sat a meter away from the Queen. “This is nice.”

"It's the best part of the day, when I come in here, and I can relax." Annuciata sighed as she took a sip of juice from the platter the servant offered. "A little time for me, myself and I... and present company included."

"I can only hope that I can come close to one tenth of greatness of yourself in your spare time." Zannah rolled her shoulders and held her head back. "One of your brothers thought it would be cute to show me his tower. Is that code for something?"

"Let me guess, it was Dario, wasn't it?" Annuciata snickered, knowing that her twin brothers were always up to something with the visiting royal women. "If they cannot rule here, I suppose they're setting their sights elsewhere."

"Shame for them I'd find their 'towers' brittle and frail~"

"Prefer women to men, Empress?" Annuciata removed one of the cucumbers from her eyelids to look at Zannah. "Can't say I blame you."

"This worlds history has been dominated by strong, wise, powerful woman. Many who had to fight against monstrous men. And let's be honest. Men covet woman because we are fine and beautiful. Why can't I have some of that as well I say."

"You have a point, Empress." Annuciata motioned for the servants to offer the Empress a drink. "Dario and Enzio fancy you because you are both fine and beautiful... and you have a kingdom." The queen then inquired of Zannah. "Though I am curious, Empress, as to why you've never found a man to control? Or is it because all the handsome ones like Kahli have been taken?"

"Because I don't desire a man. And my kingdom does not require one. The most pressure I ever received was to have a child. I did so. Having a lover can help build power, but that is not the reason to have one, or my desire to have one." The Empress took her drink and swallowed the succulence of the beverage. "Men like Kahli make excellent instruments to fight for your will."

"I cannot help but wonder how the young sister of Queen Zarazu's managed to catch Kahli, especially since he's a rarity with that kind of power." Annuciata slid the tray of cucumbers over to Zannah, in case she wanted a couple to rest upon her face. "Either way, plenty of fish in the sea, but how to know which is right for me? Things are so much easier and sensible with a woman anyhow. Do you currently have a lover?"

"I do not Queen Annuciata." Zannah slowly took bite of one of the cucumbers. "You ever friends with Princess RInku?"

"I've met her on a few occasions, but we are not necessarily known." Annuciata shrugged lightly as she sunk into the water up to her shoulders. "We're cordial to each other due to her status of princess, though we're not very close friends."

"She was the only person I viewed as potential lover. I didn't work out do to the war, but I think we had a spark. I spark that died due to our responsibilities after the war ended. So she set my standards. Power, courage, and beauty." Zannah gave a light laugh. "Of course, I was sixteen at the time, so how would I know if I was looking at the most beautiful woman in front of me or not."

"Young love is so innocent and so pure, I remember those days." Annuciata sighed as she thought back on the memories. "I used to have this crush on stable boy when I was thirteen. He was nearing eighteen. So handsome, so tall, so charming... until he became a guard, and his personality shifted. No longer was he the nice boy I fell for, but a condescending jerk to those who worked under him. Men."

“Well, someone close to me that I admired tried to make me his concubine when he had newfound power go to his head.” Zannah took a sip of her wine, eying over the Queen. It was a shame the water and the steam covered her features. “How’s your joints feeling?”

"I stand by my statement of why buy the whole pig if you can just get the sausage for free." Annuciata picked off her cucumbers to look at the Empress. "Some old hurts will never disappear, Empress, leaving scars for life. Though the warmth of the spa manages to ease them away... well, some of them."

“No... they never will.” Zannah cleared her mind and focused on the Queen. “I’m guessing you’ve never had a Hasai massage before, have you?”

"No, I have not." Annuciata sounded intrigued. "Is it some sort of specialty in your empire?"

“The Skurge tribe, given their fiery abilities, have the talent to heal and soften the muscles with just a touch. I am not only not an exception to this, but a master of the art. Would you trust and give this Empress the honour of demonstrating?”

"A demonstration sounds like a slice of heaven, Empress." Annuciata agreed to the massage, scooting over closer to Zannah. "My neck is always tense. I feel like when I'm on the throne, I cannot move unless it's with all the grace of a doll."

Zannah brushed her thighs against the Queen's, a warmth already filling her. "Be sure to relax."

Getting behind Annuciata, Zannah began her work, her hands starting below the Queen's shoulders. The warmth Annuciata felt from just holding hands the night before was magnified immensely now. The Empress applied pressure with her palms as she began her work. "If you want to sit on my lap, or get out of the pool, I can position closer if you'd like."

"Hrm-mmmhhh..." Annuciata had been reduced to mere little mumbles by the intense warmth spreading throughout her body. It felt so wonderful to be rid of all the aches. Keeping proper posture was important, though sometimes, Annuciata wondered if it was really necessary to wear such a heavy crown. Maybe she could have some of the jewels taken out and switched with fakes to reduce the weight. For now, all she wanted was to enjoy this massage. "Whatever's... mmm... easier for you..."

Zannah lifted the Queen rather easily onto her lap by picking her up from the waist. Continuing, she went down Annuciata's back. Her bare bottom against the Empress thighs felt great. And at this close, Annuciata was sure she could feel abs if she pressed closely enough with her back.

"Oh wow." Annuciata was definitely surprised when Zannah lifted her so easily. "Mmm... you're pretty built for a lady..." The Queen of Danjur was like putty in the Empress' hands. "Not a lot of those around these parts."

"The Hasai are a warrior race at heart. I'm no exception. I was forced to train as a child, so if I stopped now, all that hard work would turn to fat. I wish I had a body like you Annuciata. So petite. So smooth..." The Empress rubbed the Queen's neck, rubbing out her last kinks. With a smooth swift motion, she gave Annuciata a crack of the neck, and with a pop, she felt fantastic.

"OH!" Annuciata jolted slightly when she felt her bones shift slightly. It felt... wonderful. The tension was gone, the aches disappeared, and the Queen felt like she could actually move again without the stiffness in her body. "That was... are you sure it wasn't magic?"

"Part of it was, but most of it is just knowing the nervous system of the human body." Zannah's hands lay on the Queen's stomach, her heat still filling the Queen. "You should be good for three weeks of full free motion."

"You're like a fireplace, Empress." Annuciata was still not used to being touched so freely, jumping a little at Zannah's hands. "I feel like I can do my ballet without wincing now."

"Tell me more about what you think you can do? I want to hear your imagination."

"I took ballet as a little girl and wanted nothing more than to fly like the beautiful swans outside in my pond." Annuciata stretched her limbs. "Although I lacked wings, I still felt like I could soar when I took those leaps..." She looked over her shoulder at the Empress. "Thank you."

"I can see it. You're beautiful." As Annuciata turned to her, and kept her gaze on the Empress, Zannah slowly leaned in to kiss her lips.

Annuciata quickly pulled in Zannah for a deep kiss.

"... by the goddesses, I've wanted to do that since I first saw you."

"I'm glad you feel that way." Zannah returned the kiss again, moving a hand to rub Annuciata's thigh, the other holding her hand.

"Don't get me wrong, I like men, but women are so much better." Annuciata tangled her hands in Zannah's hair. "You are so much better. A literal goddess of fire just waltzed into my kingdom and like hell I'm letting you go."

"You've been witty, charming, and intelligent in what I've seen from you. And you understand power. You've fit all my standards." Zannah turned Annuciata to face her, aggressively gripping at her breasts under the water, kissing her deep again. A burning heat was burning in the Empress, the factory of love at work. When Hasai found a mate, a true mate, they bonded for life. Zannah knew that these were early signs of that. Despite the potential political danger, she didn't stop.

"Excuse my language, Empress, but I want to fuck." Annuciata placed a single finger on Zannah's lips, giving a soft gasp as those hands squeezed her breasts. "So shush with the talk for now, and let me just hear those moans." Without giving Zannah a chance to protest, Annuciata pushed the Empress onto the ledge and opened her legs. Then, she lowered her mouth to lick at Zannah's clit.

Zannah's body was dripping wet, but Annuciata was making her body simmer, with actual steam sizzling the water off her body. Zannah started to pant as the Queen went low against her clit.

Annuciata ran her hands down Zannah's legs, and then back up to her thighs. Her fingers spread open Zannah's folds and her tongue dove inside the empress' hot insides. It was almost like a drug, this heat filling her from inside out, like there was a fire inside of body. Was it part of Zannah's magic? Or was it just a mutual connection?

Zannah gritted her teeth, her walls squeezing on the tongue. Placing a hand on Annuciata's head, she felt her majestic hair, and pushed her to go deeper. "S-such technique."

"Hrmmm-mmm." Annuciata lifted her mouth off of Zannah's intimate parts with a grin. Her tongue swirled around the outer parts of her mouth, almost like she was making sure to get all of the empress' taste. "And? Do you want more?"

"Yes. In fact, I demand more." Zannah massaged her smaller breasts, licking her lips in anticipation. "I could make love to you on the floor, on a bed, or anywhere else you desire."

"As long as you don't melt me into a pile of goo, Danjur needs it's queen in one piece." Annuciata purred at the empress. "What is your preference? I'll make sure we won't be disturbed."

Zannah scooped Annuicata out of the tub and pushed her onto the bare floor, holding her down by the wrists. "Let's get a little savage~"

With another purr, Zannah kissed Annuicata again, lathering her tongue with the Queens own.

"Define 'savage', Zannah, I'd like to see what you really think of the word." Annuciata wrapped her legs around Zannah's waist. "And don't give me a textbook answer."

"Tell me, what's your tolerance for pain?" Zannah trailed her hand to the back of Annuciata's neck to hold her steady.

"Did you take a good look at my feet?" Annuciata had horrid looking toes and bruised feet due to the intense strain of ballet dancing. Even some toenails were gone, having been ripped or broken off during dancing. Most of her toes and a few bones in her feet had been broken due to the repeated training. "Ballet is not for the faint of heart, you know."

Zannah took her hand so Annuciata could feel a scar on her lower back. "Feel that? Wounds from the war. I also have some scars under my hair... dig into it. Make them feel something again."

"So a little twinge gets you going?" Annuciata wrapped her fingers into Zannah's hair once more and lightly scrapped them into her skull. "Maybe a little..." She took her teeth and bit into Zannah's neck, giving her a hickey. "Love bite?"

"Hmmm, that's good. Tell me how you like fire~" Zannah's hands warmed up, and Annuicita felt a hot smack on her breast like a heated poker. It didn't leave any marks, but she felt the heat none the less.

"OH!" Annuciata did jump slightly at the intense heat, however, the tingle of pain disappeared as soon as it came. "Fire is passionate, illuminating, and dangerous... you get too close, you get burnt. Yet, you get close enough... you get such a lovely warmth."

"Exactly." The Queen suddenly felt Zannah's fingers pour into her womanhood. Pumping her, the Empress forced Annuciata to lick her other hand. "You're a tight little lady. Let's stretch you out."

"E-Easy there," Annuciata took in a sharp inhale. "Tight for a reason, my eager empress. Hasn't been occupied in a while." Nibbling on Zannah's fingers, the queen of Danjur wriggled slightly under the touches.

"Good. More for me than." Zannah continued for a while, pressing her thumb on he lover's clit. "Bite harder."

"Ahh... as you wish, empress." Annuciata had a smug expression as she then bit hard on Zannah's shoulder, close enough to draw blood.

Zannah gave deep moan from the pain, savouring it. When Annuciata licked her shoulder wound, she felt a high like no other from Zannah's divine blood. "Oh yes."

"Oh... oh my..." Annuciata felt like she was on a high. This was a different feeling from drinking too much wine, this was like floating among the clouds. Was she really flying now? It was like flying. This truly was one of her dreams, for sure, this kind of sensation. She wanted more, she never wanted to let go. Snaking her hands down Zannah's back, she slipped one finger into the empress' pussy, wriggling it around.

Zannah gritted her teeth, simply only able to massage Annuciata's body as both woman stood on their knees. "Oh Annuciata~ My dear, you're beautiful."

"Beautiful or savage, Zannah, you tell me, can a woman be both?" Annuciata nudged the Empress onto her back, and eased her way between Zannah's legs. Then nipped really hard on Zannah's inner thigh before turning her attention back to the empress' clit, laving her tongue slowly, teasingly.

"Yes, we can." Zannah groaned, not caring if anyone heard or saw them. This was her and Annuciata's moment. She rubbed her own clit, and Annuciata saw literal electric sparks go between Zannah’s finger tips. "I'm feeling something primal for you."

"Oh? Close?" Annuciata pushed her fingers inside Zannah's passage, moving them in and out, all the while, making sure to keep some attention to Zannah's clit.

Zannah finally opened her mouth, needing to breath through the pressure. Annuciata and her felt the fire burning both inside them. The Empress would never admit it, but she was becoming undone by the Queen. She pulled her close to kiss her passionately to give the Queen of Danjur some pleasure in turn as she continued her handy work down below.

It was not long before the heat rising in Annuciata caused the queen to fill the edge of bliss feeling her senses. So this was what flying was like? Birds were so free, so gifted, and could go anywhere in the world. That's what Annuciata wanted, and right now, she was experiencing it. Yet, her fingers continued to touch and pleasure Zannah.

Zannah felt her most animalistic instincts burn. Sex had always been done with lower beings before. There was no love in it. Perhaps that was why now she felt her mind crackle and burn. Annuciata was no ordinary woman. She was royalty by blood, just like herself. The need to bond could not be denied.

Applying her own fingers to the Queen, both woman pleasured and pumped each other. Finally, Zannah felt she could let go. Her mind and body gave out, and like a bomb, she exploded into a triumphant scream of ecstasy. Her fingers gave Annuciata a shock on her clit as Zannah’s juices flowed down her thighs, her feet buckling.

"I think..." Annuciata was out of breath as she slumped against Zannah. "I finally felt... what flying was like..."

Zannah held her gently by the face, turning her to look at her. The Emperor’s eyes burned with lust and love. “Annuciata. Bond with me.”

"Bond?" Annuciata repeated, unsure of what Zannah meant.

“Bond, be my mate for life”.

"Mate for life?" Annuciata sounded surprised. "Zannah, I... as much as I would like that, you know it's..." She ran a had down her face, sighing sadly. "It's not possible."

"I know the implications. I know the political calculations we'd need to go around." Zannah's golden eyes burned as she lifted Annuciata up to stand with her, holding the Queen close. "This alliance of ours can become much, much more now. And I would burn the world for you. My power is limitless if I were to use its vast potential. And I'd do it for you. As a Hasai, I've chosen you."

The Empress took the hair out of the Queen's face to look at her more clearly.

"Listen... I know I sound crazy, but what we did here was something special. I don't care how slow and calculated we need to take this, but I want you Annuciata. We have the combined power to make a relationship work."

"While we want it to work, there's still some issues we'd have to sort." Annuciata sighed, looking downcast. "We cannot be together because of our kingdoms. You'd have to be in the Kikai Empire, I'd have to be here. I'll have to produce an heir sooner or later. And not to mention, we'd never be able to let anyone know..."

"Annuciata." Zannah gripped the Queen's chin firmly to look back at her. "You are Queen of your nation. Who will stand against you? And I am a God given flesh. Give me your faith, as through me you can find the inner strength to overcome any trial. I have a plan my dear."

"What plan?"

"Give your kingdom a child. Give them a beacon to have faith in the future. Once that is done, put your foot down. You can have anything you set your mind to. As for our kingdoms, we will have an open relationship, building a superpower together between our two nations. Uskar, Labrymma, Al-Daida, Omisha, and even Hyrule wouldn't compare to our combined might. With you by my side, and I at yours, we'd have unlimited power."

"Power yes, but... power is not everything, Zannah." Annuciata held the empress' hand. "There has to be a balance. Too much power, there would be targets on your back and my own. We'd have to be careful, for sure. Danjur will have to be safe and so will the Kikai Empire. We would love each other, but our duty is to our people." She shook her head. "I don't want anything to happen to you. While I know your might in magic and strength far surpasses my own, there are others out there who could possibly take you from me."

"None. No one can kill me. Especially now. With us together, our people will be the greatest on earth. Give me power... but also give me love. Trust me." Zannah gave Annuciata a pillowly kiss on the lips.

"Death finds a way of claiming even those who are immortals, beautiful..." Anncuiata leaned into the soft smooch. "We will have to be a secret for now."

"Why do we need it to be a secret? What are you afraid of?" Zannah pulled the Queen close to her.

"... my brothers." Annuciata frowned. "They'll see it as a weakness to extort. They'll try to use it as an excuse to take away my throne. A woman and another woman cannot produce a child. They'll see me as incompetent and try to sway the council their way. My kingdom would suffer for it... or horrors upon horrors, yours would."

"They are weak. Do not focus your mind on them." Zannah placed her finger tips on the Queen's temples to channel a calming energy into her. The Empress felt a need to make her lover feel safe. "It's not extortion. It's a partnership. You hold their miserable lives in your hands. I could even take them away from your burdened mind if you wished. As for a child, you can find a donor, just as I did. You giving birth you show your little council, but more importantly your people you have a legacy for them. Mark my words, from this point on, I will not allow either of our people to suffer."

"Weak or not, I will have to ensure my brothers do not try to turn my kingdom into a waste." Annuciata then brought up the main concern on her mind. "Even if we did pursue this, Zannah, I cannot let it influence my decisions with other kingdoms. I have to be fair. If I did find a donor for a child or created a scheme to make it appear as the others envisioned, how would we be able to give love to each other? The Kikai Empire is so far away."

Zannah lowered her head. She found herself having to control her temper as she breathed. Her hands caressed up and down the hips of the Queen. "You're making it hard to be in control of my emotions. I suppose that is due to my biology after the love making we did just now. Being 'fair' is what a child uses to have an advantage to stop having those stronger reign over them. Our love does not effect other kingdom's relationships. I'd travel as often as you needed me. And at a call I'd bring you to me. We can make this work, but I need you to have faith in me my darling."

"Faith... I suppose that is why religion is so difficult. It's hard to have faith when all the obstacles are ever present in your path." Annuciata kissed Zannah on the forehead. "Though I believe my faith in you will not change."

"Thank you. I will do what I can to bring us together." Zannah pulled Annuciata in for another kiss. "I'd like to return to your quarters."

"Hrm, my quarters? To stay?" Annuciata jested lightly. "I'll be honest, Zannah, I'm not good at sharing, I've always been a brat that way... might not let you leave."

"And I've always been good at disciplining brats. Be it my brother, my children, and perhaps even you." Zannah trailed a finger under the Queen's neck and pulled her along. "Show me the way my darling~"

"You can try all you want, but I doubt you'll succeed." Annuciata grinned at Zannah. "Come this way, my dear..."

[eclectia]

Silent Hill 2: As A Disabled Woman

Please be warned this piece discusses ableism and abuse, including murder, and contains a minor mention [just a passing plot-point, not elaborated upon] of childhood sexual abuse.

The Ancient Land is in its final stages- I'm finishing up the coding and there'll be a demo very very soon; so in my downtime I've been working out other concepts and brainstorming a lot of various things for what may or may not become my next project. There'll be more on those in the coming weeks, but I wanted to post something slightly different in the meantime to make up for the fact that I can't really keep posting “yep, still coding, still bad at it”.

One of the ideas I had revolves around a horror game, and in working out concepts for it I've been revisiting some of my favourite horror franchises – films, video games, and novels, to try and work out what makes me tick, what makes horror tick, and how I can make my game tick. In doing so, I replayed one of my perennial favourites in Silent Hill 2. As well as being one of my favourite games, it is widely held as one of the best horror video games to date, held up alongside Resident Evil, Clocktower and Alone in the Dark as a foundation of Survival Horror.

It had been some time since I last played it, and when I was a newly-diagnosed diabetic it resonated with me because of its portrayal of chronic illness, more specifically, that a character within the game had one. There weren't any games that dealt with that subject matter in such a visceral manner. At a young age, 11, I was processing my diagnosis and trying to understand how it would effect my whole life, a process which I am still trying to come to terms with and this was isolating to say the least. I was traversing my own fog.

Silent Hill 2 is not my favourite Silent Hill, that honour goes to 3 – teenage girls in horror!-, but it holds a special place in my heart, important during a time of my life where I was processing the lifelong grief of my new diagnoses. And, as I grew and co-morbidity –the tendency for multiple conditions to cluster around a primary condition - meant I had a great many other diagnoses, I found myself revisiting those claustrophobic streets as a source of comfort. It seems oxymoronic to play a horror game for comfort, but horror as a whole is a genre I have often retreated to during my darkest periods. There's safety in monsters too fantastical to exist. Yet, the real horror of Silent Hill 2 for me isn't in its psychological monsters but in the real fears of ableism and sickness.

I realised as I grew that Silent Hill's handling of and representation of illness was the reason for my constant revisits. It comforted, repulsed, terrified and saddened me and helped me process the guilt of being sick. As my relationship with myself and my disabilities [they're multiplying!] has evolved so has my reading and relationship with Silent Hill 2. There will be spoilers if you've not played it, so if you don't want it spoiled don't read any further.

I am in two minds about it on many fronts, mostly for how it handles and represents disability conceptually and literally. On the one hand, stories about how disabled people are burdensome and which usually end with their dying are a constant staple. We are a tragic love story, and in many ways Silent Hill 2 reinforces this- indeed, this is the crux of the story. The narrative of Silent Hill 2 is driven by its unreliable protagonist James Sunderland; his actions are frequently cast into doubt and Mary's right to live is what drives the main conflict within James' psyche, manifesting as the horrors of the game. Her slow death, James' desire to prolong and shorten her life, and how this conflicts with both of their wishes all form important narrative milestones. James and Mary both are cast in sympathetic lights, and many players come to understand through the naturally presented narrative that James was in the wrong. At least I hope so.

This journey of guilt mirrors the traumas of the cast of supporting characters, all of whom are dealing with guilt stemming from murder – Angela kills her sexually abusive father [which frankly I cannot criticise]; Eddie, bullied, snaps and kills a dog and perhaps a person although this is left ambiguous. Between Angela's self defence, Eddie's snapping and James' sympathy-killing of his wife, there are many facets and stages of guilt portrayed within this game. And in this world, moral greyness, like fog, presides. Yet I don't think I can agree with how yet again a disabled character is killed off to forward the plot of an abled protagonist and often we feel sorry and empathise with him by vice of his being the player character. We view the game through his perspective, and in controlling him the default perspective and empathy lies with him. This could be a problem if twinned with a player who's view and experience of disability is informed solely through media or second-hand experience. Being asked to sympathise with a character, especially one who killed a disabled woman, might lead to your average abled person simply thinking he is in the right because, concerningly, it is something they would consider. Within the context of real life this sad story -of a carer or lover who kills a sick partner, thinking it's the best thing for them- happens all too often. A very real horror for me.

Just a few years ago, in Japan nonetheless, an able bodied man slaughtered 16 disabled people because he felt they were better off dead. I am not inherently against assisted suicide, but this is not that. It is important to note there is a form of ableist abuse wherein abled people coerce disabled people that they're not worth anything, and would be better off dead. I want to make it clear that these two things are entirely different. This is not, explicitly, the situation in Silent Hill 2. There is an ending where Mary thanks and forgives James but it is also shown Mary does struggle with feelings of self-loathing during the course of her illness; not brought on by James in any way, at least not actively, and definitely something I as a disabled woman have dealt with, but worth considering. And, I think, abled people want to feel justified in their views on the worth of disabled lives, so perhaps the apology is there as a form of catharsis for abled people more than it is anything else. It is OK to sympathise with James, we'd all do the same in his situation, disabled people all secretly want to be put out of their misery. This is the unpleasant streak that runs through the game, the crux of where our sympathies stem from.

Having mentioned this, his actions are never actively condoned by the game. It is simply a harsh reality of ableism that often, abled people think they are putting us out of our misery or that our existence is inherently twinned with suffering. I don't think the writers of the game were aware of this when they wrote this in, they simply wanted a psychological angle to take so this accidental aesop is perhaps, a fluke. Many aspects of the game were planned and researched meticulously, but as far as I know none of the development team had any personal experience with illness, so the game comes from their wholly abled perspective.

As I have grown as a person, I have come into my own internal conflict with the themes and presentation therein of the game. When I was newly diagnosed with a condition that, at the time I was told would carve years off my life and which needed lifelong medication simply to function, I found solace in Silent Hill. James' struggle to understand and cope with the death of his wife was similar to how I was struggling to cope and fathom the life-changing diagnosis I had had. I think, perhaps, that when I ran through the streets again and again I was searching within the game, for some ways of processing the diagnoses I found myself saddled with. James mourned his wife of 3 years [3 days] dead, I mourned for a life drastically changed in a matter of days. James, struggling to understand his wifes' illness, was just like me struggling with mine. I was lost in my own fog, in the streets of my own head trying to come to terms with myself.

Bearing this in mind, as I have grown up and come to terms with my conditions my attitudes towards the narrative of Silent Hill 2 have changed. In it, illness is this fearful beast – it could be you! You could be sick!-, except I was; and I didn't want scares, nor did I find the implicit implications of illness scary in the same way an abled person might. What might be horrifying to an abled person was just a daily experience for me. I knew how scary illness could be. I wanted to feel normal.

Looking for normality in a horror game might feel extraneous except for when we take into consideration that many monsters in horror are stand-ins for minorities within society; the queers in the vampire, the proverbial “other”, the rejection of Frankenstein's Monster. Like them, the monsters in Silent Hill 2 all represent something, illness and the multiple perspectives of illness that James has, and I found it less comforting and more... melodramatic. Illness is a daily fact of life for me, and using my existence as a threat to abled people – you could be sick and burdensome just like Mary- just felt insulting. In Silent Hill, illness and sick people are as much the monster as James. Mary looms like Orlok's shadow.

As a character Mary is shown to be multi-faceted; James' manifestations of his guilt and feelings about Mary show her to be venomous, angry bitter, a monster spitting acid but her final letter to him reveals that she admits to this, but more than that: she is a guilt-ridden wife who knows her illness is effecting her spouse. It is heart-wrenching, and beautifully written, and as an ending monologue is poignant and reflected many of the feelings I have felt as a disabled woman. There have been times I have lashed out to people I love because of a particularly bad month of illness, and then the guilt comes because I am only human. Anger, pain and this endless cycle is an intrinsic part of Mary's character throughout the game, and despite it all, Mary is shown to be all that James wants. This is not a narrative fault, but a character flaw within James that he readily recognises and criticises repeatedly, and again, desire and the nature of it is wholly human.

Mary's portrayal within the game is both progressive and sympathetic, and concerningly backward. Mary is humanised in a way that very little media about sickness has ever done, and shown as a multifaceted and complex character just as James' own motivations and desires are shown to be both good, and bad. My readings of Silent Hill are in no way the only way to read it, and in no way lessen the story Silent Hill 2 is telling; it is an amazing, visceral game with a humanising and terrifying portrayal of how illness can take over lives.  

Silent Hill 2 holds a special place in my heart. At a time in my life where I was processing the first of many illnesses to grip me it allowed me to process and deconstruct my own feelings towards my mortality, dwindling health and illnesses. Experiencing and living with illnesses is isolating and lonely to say the least, not least because of how abled people treat us and I think Silent Hill almost nails that on the head accidentally.

This is not to say that people living with spouses who deal with illness should feel wrong, or guilty, for feeling bad about illness and I am not silly enough to suggest that illness does not have an effect on those around me; it does, but the way Silent Hill missteps is in showing illness as a singularly burdensome, corrupting thing, and offering justification for James' actions. It is left up to the player, ultimately, but I do worry for how abled gamers might perceive and justify James within the wider context of society.

There isn't much point to this post. Its just a ramble, and an internal struggle, I've dealt with for a little while and decided to finally try and hash out.

[luckywildrover]

ABOUT

Name: Jamie Murphy

Alias: Rover (or ‘Lucky Rover’)

Birthday: July 10th, 1992

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Job: IT Specialist // Face and Brains of LuckyWildRover, a large social media channel that predominantly focuses on video content. However, since the latter is linked to the online persona, it’s not common knowledge.

Skills: Can quickly learn how to use computer programs, coding. Parkour and good agility. Has a strong, accurate gut feeling

Struggles: Has unharnessed electrical powers: will give static shocks when stressed, and has shot out electricity when overwhelmed with an emotion. Photosensitivity: has to wear special glasses to prevent him from getting eye strain or headaches while surrounded by artificial lights.

Distinguishing features: Large lightning scar on his back, stretching from his right shoulder, down his spine, to his left hip. It would give a faint glow when his electricity is active, but it’s only noticed when the scar can be seen.

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Positives - Energetic, Optimistic, Friendly, Bubbly

Negatives - Stubborn, Prone to over-work, Can mask own problems, 

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 Jamie Murphy was born and raised in a rural community in Ireland. His family was large and closely-knit, with his family home being built on the land his grandparents owned. There was always something going on, a new adventure to be found in the nearby fields, jobs to do on the farms, games to play with cousins and lessons to be learned. 

One of his favourite lessons was when he learned about the Irish culture and traditions. His grandfather was a famous storyteller in the community, and could regale tales of Celtic mythology and local legends with such skill that Jamie would go to bed with images spinning in his mind. He grew up convinced there was more beyond what we could see - the fae were experts in hiding, after all. There was magic hidden everywhere if you looked hard enough! Imagine - a world where a chance encounter could lead to something wonderful and unforgettable! This outward view of looking at the world with curiosity stayed with him, as he graduated with a honours degree in Computer Science and travelled to America to pursue his dreams. Magic might not be a thing, but technology was a magic all its own.

Once there, he moved to the city to catch up with Cormac. Cormac was his cousin, and undoubtedly his closest friend growing up.The two were similar in age and looks to the point of there being a running joke in the family that they were secretly twins. Cormac had moved to America after finishing school and hit it big once he graduated university. He founded a social media channel - LuckyWildRover - that became very popular in a short amount of time. While Jamie didn’t quite understand how it happened, he was happy to spend time with his cousin while settling to life in the city. His own job focused on temporary contract work, so Cormac helped him find his feet in a little rented space.

It was a strange life, but Jamie couldn’t complain. He was happy, had a sense of security, and had good company. Life was starting to turn into something good, but this is only the start of the story.

A late-night walk home turned into a threat when a man approached him. His hood was up, and there was no trace of a face underneath. Even when the light should have given a hint, it was like the stranger was made of shadows. A knife was pulled out as the stranger pounced. Jamie’s training in parkour meant his reflexes were sharp, and he dodge the initial attack and run. He hadn’t gotten far before he was grabbed from behind and slammed into an electrical box. The knife was plunged into his shoulder with such force that it tore through and damaged the electrical box. A powerful surge of electricity shot through Jamie’s body, and the force of the knife being pulled out of his body had him drop like lead to the ground. He watched the other raise his knife again with fearful eyes… But a third figure approached. 

“You have failed your task,” the third said to the attacker, “This is not who we want.” Without so much as an apology, the pair walked out of sight as Jamie passed out.

He woke up in hospital, with one arm bound in a sling and an IV drip attached to his other arm. Cormac had been pacing the length and breadth of the ward, relief as clear as day as he hurried over. However, it switched to panic as Jamie attempted to explain what happened to him. At that moment, it was decided that Jamie would be hired by Cormac while his arm recovered. 

The following months found Jamie in a rather unusual setting. Not only was he going through a slow recovery process and adjusting to a new job, he also was adjusting to being more prone to static shocks and seeing little sparks shoot out of his hands. All he could hope was learning the ropes of the LuckyWildRover channel would be easy. Thanks to social media, he had an idea of how the life of someone like Cormac ought to work… Except it didn’t apply. Despite his face being on the camera and the channel’s focus on him, very little of Cormac himself was known. Fans, and even those who worked for and with him, only knew Cormac by Rover, his screen name. No video update mentioned Jamie being around or what happened. Even Jamie’s joke of the two doing a ‘spot the difference’ video between the nearly identical cousins was shot down. “Everything runs as it ought to, Jamie. No better way to do it”. Despite this, the pair worked rather well together, and the arrangements that had been set up continued long after the doctor gave Jamie the all-clear. While he did have some small jobs here and there, Jamie’ primary job was to be someone Cormac could bounce ideas off while he worked, and help out where he could. He had a chance to learn how to set videos up, how to prepare a script if it was needed, how the system worked to record screens, video game footage, whatever might be required. But when Jamie asked why he was learning all of this, Cormac shrugged and admitted that it was nice to talk to someone he knew about his job, rather than being known as just the stage name. The joke of Jamie being the substitute while Cormac went on a sneaky holiday didn’t go down so well.

This continued for a year, until one night Jamie had spent the night playing video games and chatting with his cousin in the latter’s house. He crashed on the couch, and woke up the next morning to discover that Cormac had vanished from existence.

Not in a ‘he fled the country’ manner, but more so that Cormac had literally been erased from existence. In a panic, he searched the entire house, the recording setup at the bottom of the garden, all the familiar settings, but to no avail. It was only when Jamie knocked a childhood photo while scrambling to find the phone did he realise this wasn’t a matter for the police. It was a photo taken at their grandparents’ 40th wedding anniversary, where all the cousins were crammed into the tiny sitting room for a photo. Even though the photo was ten years old, Cormac wasn’t there. He had stood beside Jamie that day. Any photo Jamie had was intact, but all other traces of the streamer vanished. Online social media statuses didn’t include him in the family groups, photos had him absent… It was like he was never there.

For two days, Jamie was at a loss, mourning the disappearance of a man no one could remember. But why could he remember? What happened? It was like the stories his grandfather had told them back in rural Ireland, where people would make a mistake and be vanished away by something like the fae. It seemed so improbable, but it was all his frantic mind could conclude.

Then… A phone call.

The editor of LuckyWildRover called, wondering where Rover was and if Jamie knew anything. At first, he was delighted that someone remembered, but the joy sunk to his stomach when he remembered the editor only knew the channel persona. The mood quickly flipped as he learned that fans were asking about Rover, wondering why the streamer had disappeared.

All at once, Jamie realised that Cormac’s strange approach to business was deliberate. If there was magic afoot which erased his identity, his legacy would remain since the channel wasn’t about Cormac. He promised he’d look into getting an update, and hurried back to the studio at the bottom of the garden. A proper search of the desk revealed a notebook addressed to Jamie.

“If you’re reading this, things have gone to shit. Everything runs as it ought to, and no one can know what happened to me. I’m sure you understand why I can’t tell you what’s happening, but you need to keep this going. Everything you’ve learned was for this, everything you need to help you is here. All I’ve worked for is my loophole. I’ve made sure everything I own also has your name attached to it. Don’t let it vanish like I did. Rover.”

The channel and the house were all Jamie had left of his cousin, and he would be damned if he’d let it all disappear. Until he figured out a way to bring his cousin back, he’d have to man the channel and try to find answers.

Everything runs as it ought to. No better way to do it.

This is Rover. Welcome to the show.